By Jalyn Bolyard, Online Editor
While the radio is playing “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” many college students will tend to disagree as finals week is right around the corner.
Finals week is stressful for college students. According to a study by MentalHelp, titled “Mental Health on College Campuses,” 31 percent of students reported that midterm and final exams were their most significant cause of stress. The second is graduation and job future, with 26 percent of students reporting that as their biggest stressor.
With graduation and finals week looming, some students may feel daunted with the amount of workload they have. Here are some tips to survive finals week for students who are feeling overwhelmed this time of year.
Make a plan
This one may sound simple, but it can lead to rewards. Students can write out their exam times and project due dates in their planner. Doing so can make sure nothing falls through the crack at this already stressful time of the year.
This semester, WLU’s final exam schedule is a little different. See this link or page 6 in this week’s Trumpet to get the updated exam times.
After making a plan, remember to follow through and stick to it, which means studying when one plans to and getting ahead of the workload.
Stay hydrated
According to the BBC, researchers found students who drank water during an exam scored about five percent higher on it than those who didn’t.
The reasons for this still needs to be studied, but one definitely doesn’t want to be dehydrated during finals week.
Severe dehydration can lead to sleepiness and lack of energy while moderate dehydration can cause a headache, according to WebMD. These symptoms could complicate finals week even more, so remember to drink water periodically throughout the week to keep energized, and who knows, maybe it will just improve grades.
Take a break
Studying for hours straight will leave one feeling exhausted. Remember to take breaks while studying to get a mental break.
Students can attend the annual late night breakfast in the Marketplace from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 10 to take a break from studying. This event is always a nice relaxer and treat at the beginning of finals week. It is free for students and no meal swipe is required. There will also be late night snacks in Jazzman’s during finals week as well.
Students can also take a break by listening to music, watching an episode of their favorite show, or exercising. By doing an activity that clears the mind, it can make it easier to go back to the books later on.
Utilize campus resources
While preparing for finals week, remember to take advantage of the resources available on campus.
The Learning and Student Development Center (LSDC) will have extended hours starting this weekend to help students prepare for finals and will have snacks for students. The LSDC will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 1 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, and from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday, Dec. 10 through Thursday, Dec. 13.
If writing a paper, students can also utilize any of the databases through the Elbin Library. Students can find resources for their big projects simply by going to the library’s website.
This finals week, remember to take a deep breath and tell yourself – you can do it!
Photo Credit: Jalyn Bolyard
