10 Studying Tips to Help You Survive Finals

Burst | Sarah Pflug

Finals can be one of the most stressful times in a student's life. And if you're a freshman or a senior in high school or college, it can feel borderline crippling. Having six essays to write and three tests to study for, all while being told how much your future depends on them, can be . . . a lot. You also want to stay healthy, sane, and somewhat social, but can you even do that without constantly feeling like you're losing your mind? Well, take a deep breath, because there are ways to make it to the other side of finals in one (happy) piece. Keep reading for 10 tips that should help you stay calm, get your studying done, and still manage to prioritize your self-care routine. You got this!

01
Start Early
Burst | Sarah Pflug

Start Early

Cramming everything into a three day period can cause so much stress and anxiety that's just not good for you. The good news is that you've probably already taken a midterm for your classes so you should have an idea of the format for your final exam. While in your classes, pay attention to things that would match the format of the midterm you already took. Did you have to know dates and how to spell names? Or was it focused more on general facts and concepts? This will help you when taking notes and will make studying them later much easier. Also, if your professor repeats something, it's probably important enough to write down.

02
Don't Study in Your Room
Burst | Matthew Henry

Don't Study in Your Room

If you try to study in your room, you risk accidental napping, flipping through Netflix for just "five more minutes," or doing literally anything else to distract yourself. Find a good place to study like a library or a lounge on campus that doesn't have things to deter your focus.

03
Set Mini Goals For Yourself
Burst | Sarah Pflug

Set Mini Goals For Yourself

Figure out how much studying you need to do (how long it's going to take and what exactly you need to know) and write a timeline. If you have to remember 100 terms and you have 20 days, study five terms everyday. If you have an essay, figure out when you want the outline and first draft done, and hold yourself accountable (or better yet, find a friend who has no problem harassing you about it).

04
Study a Little Bit Every Day
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Study a Little Bit Every Day

One thing I've found super helpful when trying to remember things is making a few flashcards after every class. Keep them with you every day and run through them when you have time, like when you're waiting for the bus. This spreads out studying, and since you're doing it in small increments, you'll barely even notice you're doing it!

05
Find People to Study With
Getty | Klaus Vedfelt

Find People to Study With

If you know people in your class, it might be helpful to study with them and talk about the topic you need to know for your exam. Just be careful you don't get distracted and end up talking about your professors weird laugh or cute smile for three hours!

06
Take Breaks
Burst | Sajjad Hussain M

Take Breaks

Just like you wouldn't work out for three hours straight, take studying breaks to let your brain absorb the information and recharge. Just set a timer for about an hour and then take a break to eat a snack and stretch so your back doesn't start to hurt.

07
Make Outlines and Study Guides
Burst | Matthew Henry

Make Outlines and Study Guides

If you're writing a research paper, something that's helped me is making an outline based on the rubric my professor gives me. Then I find sources and put in the quotes that are helpful or relevant and cite them in the correct format (including the works cited page). Then I write around the quotes and paraphrase some of them.

If you're making a study guide, I usually organize the information into three to five categories and physically write out the information. Then I make practice tests to take throughout my studying process and I take one the day before the exam to see where I'm at.

08
Use the Resources Your Campus Offers
Burst | Matthew Henry

Use the Resources Your Campus Offers

If your campus has tutoring in the library, writing help, or if your professor has office hours, go to them! The more help you can get, the better. If you're confused about something or just missed a few commas, they should catch it for you.

09
Use Visuals
Burst | Matthew Henry

Use Visuals

Just reading can be boring. Draw pictures, write on big white boards, use post its on a wall and organize them into categories — just mix it up a bit. You might remember a chart you drew more than you remember a page in your textbook.

10
Sleep
Burst | Burst Partners

Sleep

If you don't sleep and eat, you wont remember everything you studied. You're going to be too busy thinking about how tired and hungry you are. Your body can't function without food and sleep, so always take care of yourself!

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