We all know that finals season brings an onset of anxiety, cramming, and sleepless nights. Here are some tips from us here at the Honor Code on how to manage test anxiety and do your best on your exams at home.
Create a “formula for success” - Jireh
When you are at home, sometimes wearing lounging clothes can really set your mindset for what type of productivity you are going to have. I’ve found what’s helped me reset and gain clarity is exercising, showering, sleeping early, waking up to dress for success. I want to say that it’s been working because I have done considerably on my past two exams for Calculus 3 through this “formula for success”. Make a routine for yourself that mentally prepares you and makes your mind sharp.
Take it step by step - Edward
The most effective way to study for finals is to plan ahead in small increments. I have found it very helpful to organize my workload by breaking them down into periods of time throughout the week, where I can write my essay piece by piece or read several chapters at a time. Reconstructing your study schedule can alleviate some of the stress come Finals week. If you’re like me and are put off by work simply by the thought of having to do so much work, taking it step by step will help you become more productive by limiting the number of responsibilities you put on yourself per day.
Exercise - Edward
Staring at a computer screen to study or watch lecture videos for more than four hours can be exhausting. I have found that as more and more of our curriculum is ending up online, the more I spend my time working away on my computer. Personally, this had led to quick burnouts and feeling like I got nothing accomplished after a long day of work. By going outside for a quick hike across your neighborhood or doing a quick twenty-minute session of stretches at home, exercise can break up that feeling of tediousness and re-energize you for more work. For me, I have taken up hiking. Following a trail located near my house, hiking allows me to be alone with my thoughts and surround myself with nature. Doing so has increased my ability to focus and keep a relaxed mindset for the Finals to come. But more importantly, exercise is a way to keep your body healthy as well as help your mental health especially through stressful times during Finals.
Getting rid of distractions - Edward
Noisy siblings. The news. Video games. If you are back home from college due to the quarantine, there probably are so many distractions that you might be unable to concentrate on schoolwork, let alone Finals. While some distractions might be out of your control, getting rid of distractions that are within your control is important to increase productivity and dealing with the heavy workload for the Finals. Personally, I have made sure to reduce my screen time on Instagram and any social media apps that have hindered my concentration towards my school work. This is also a good time to maybe stop multitasking during your study time. While listening to a podcast or putting on a film while studying might have worked in the past, with the added stress of the virus and ongoing economic trouble, it might be fitting to rather create a study schedule and stick to one task at a time to reduce any further distractions.
Organize your materials beforehand - Mailea
This will cut down study time while keeping the session effective. Before sitting down for a deep study session, it’s helpful to have all of your needed materials on-hand. This ensures that you won’t need to break yourself out of your “study trance” to prepare missing materials. It also means that if you need to clarify something, you’ll be able to do so quickly without having to scramble for new information. This way, you can have a sure-fire path for studying and can just focus on what you have on-hand.
Get into the Groove - Mailea
Studying doesn’t have to make you feel terrible!
Sometimes you just need a groove to jam to. I have found that, at times, having a solid playlist playing in the background can help me work better. Moving to the beat while you work can help alleviate some stress and can make studying more enjoyable. Just have some fun with it! You can also use music to pace yourself. For example, every few songs you can choose to take a short break or switch to a different section of your study materials. I prefer Lo-fi hip-hop because it’s unobtrusive yet comforting. There are a lot of resources out there with good study playlists as well (such as Spotify). Just be careful not to choose songs that will distract you! Make sure not to make the song a sticker for your memory because if you can’t play the music during your exam it might be a bit rough. However, if thinking of a song reminds you of your materials, then this could also work in your favor.
Make time for yourself - Jireh
We are slaves to productivity and more so when we are at home. All logic says we are in an environment where we are more comfortable, there is more time, we should be performing at the top of our game! As someone who takes pride in being busy, this quarantine has taken my ego down a few notches. I’ve found moments where I have fallen asleep trying to complete an assignment or even just failing to complete an assignment on time. It all points to the relativity of our experiences. It takes self-reflection to find out what type of environment works best for you. I’ve found that I work best under structured environments with constraints and no distractions and frequent breaks alongside my work. When I have an assignment to read, I go out to the grass and leave the phone behind so I can concentrate. Some of my classes require that I watch lectures and so I knit or scrapbook when I am not writing notes down. It helps me find joy even as I am also struggling to find a new way of learning.
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