The end of the semester is only weeks away and for most students they have only one thing on their minds: summer.
The only problem with making it to the end of the school year is getting through the last few weeks with those dreaded final exams, the term papers that need to be finished, and maybe the worrying about those couple of course grades that could use a little boost.
Finding the time needed to get in some extra studying or write that final paper can add to the already surmounting stress that comes with the little tasks of everyday life.
With a few helpful tips, however, students can find a better way of struggling through the end of the year and better manage the little time they have left to fit in everything they need to do.
Put off procrastination
Over the course of the school year, procrastination can become a college student’s best friend.
It may sound redundant hearing that leaving studying for the last minute is a bad idea, but when it comes to the end of the semester, procrastination can mean the worst.
Pulling an all-nighter to finish a final paper or study for an exam only adds to the stress.
A simple solution to putting off assignments until the last minute is to make a schedule. Plan out everything that needs to be done and make sure there is enough time to get it all finished.
Take breaks
Even if it may seem there isn’t enough time, taking a study break is key to managing all the stress.
One suggestion would be to study for about an hour, then take a 15-minute break. This will give students a chance to give their brain a little timeout before hitting the books again. It is always easier to learn when the brain is “fresh” and not exhausted from a solid block of cramming.
Exercise
Trying to fit in a workout in a tight study schedule can be difficult, but finding the time to exercise can be just what the body and mind need.
Exercise releases endorphins, which can actually help a person feel better, have more energy, and reduce their stress level.
If a student is finding it difficult to fit in time at the gym, multitasking is a great solution. Instead of jogging on the track, try using a stationary bike, elliptical machine, or treadmill and crack open those notebooks there.
Find the time to eat right
This may not always be the case, but often times students study for hours on end and don’t stop to eat or, more often than not, eat healthily.
Not eating can actually decrease energy and cause more frustration than necessary. When stopping for a study break, grab a snack as well.
Although stress may cause some to eat whatever is around or make food sound tasty no matter how unhealthy it may be, vitamins, minerals and complex carbohydrates in more healthy alternatives provide the body with premium, long-lasting fuel. The junk food option, though a temporary fix, is much more like a “flash-in-the-pan” and may cause you to crash. Instead of using energy drinks like Monster and RockStar, try a low sugar juice or even plain old water.
Although the end of the school year can be a stressful and crazy time of year, students can make the time pass more quickly and more productively by taking the time to decrease the added layers of stress that plague these last few weeks. n