1. Get Organized!
Get your highlighters and sticky notes ready because this is the time to get your money’s worth from your textbooks — if you haven’t already throughout the semester. Some things you will want to keep next to you are an agenda/planner, notebooks, Post-It notes, pens, pencils and highlighters, stapler and hole puncher. It helps to block out all of your exam times and dates ahead of schedule so that you can clearly see when you have time to study for each exam. Give yourself at least two to three days before the exam to review. Highlighting and underlining key concepts and vocabulary words will make it easier for you to go back and study.
2. Take Breaks!
You can never emphasize this enough. Taking breaks from your work and studies is crucial to not only your sanity but also your health. According to the Mayo Clinic, staring at computer screens and small textbook print can result in eyestrain, which may cause headaches and fatigue. Try studying between 40 and 90 minutes, and then take a 10-minute break. Also, try to engage yourself in non-interfering activities such as listening to music or exercising as you take your break. This helps you refocus and also can give you a burst of energy.
3. Sleep!
As funny as this may sound, get plenty of sleep during exam week. Sleep actually helps in storing information, and most people need at least eight hours of sleep every night. A good way to make sure that you get a proper night’s sleep is to have your room cool at night (best sleep is between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit) powering down your electronics and making your room dark and quiet.
4. Eat Right!
According to Spoon University, a student-run, online network for eating healthy while in college,there are foods that are a must for finals week. Avocados are high in potassium, vitamin B and healthy fats. They naturally lower your blood pressure and stress levels too. Warm cups of tea help you relax your mind before bed. Yogurt, nuts and dark chocolate are among the other snacks to pack during your study sessions as they boost your immune system, energy levels and are healthy alternatives to sugary junk foods.
5. Stay Hydrated!
With the Florida heat setting in, there has never been a better time to drink plenty of water. When you sweat while walking to classes or to the dorms, your body needs to replace the water loss from the daily perspiration. Since your body is around 60 percent water based, it is necessary for your body to replenish itself. Dehydration can attribute to feeling lazy, tired and even in some severe cases, numbness and fainting.
However you study, sleep or eat during this last week of the semester, remember to give it your best with each final exam. Good luck, Eagles!