Lets face it: unless you adore juggling multiple, separate, often grade-defining assignments in a short period of time, finals week is brutal. Even as someone who often enjoys writing essays, I always find myself unreasonably stressed out. My finals have varied wildly throughout semesters so it does seem like there’s always at least one new thing to adjust to. Last spring, I wrote my first twenty-page paper but, I can vividly recall when a ten-page paper in my freshman year felt like a dissertation. I write this post from my dorm room, my roommate studying for her own finals on the floor beside me and my Japanese history notes scattered across the desk. If I was speaking honestly, I would say I’m writing this blog post to procrastinate some of my studying. But, if I were telling you what I’d like to believe, then I would say I’m writing this blog post as a much needed break from all those hours of studying.
In all seriousness, while I still can fall into old procrastination habits sometimes, I have found ways to improve my study habits and work ethic when it comes to finals season. So, if you’re like me and you want to lock in but you can get easily distracted or burned out from studying, here are a few things that I personally find helpful!
1. Spread It Out and Break It Up!
The easiest way to immediately drain yourself of all your energy and brainpower is to sit and stare at the same thing for a long period of time. You’ll reach a particularly vicious combination of (somehow) both exhaustion and restlessness. Your mom is usually right: you will get a headache if you stare at the computer for too long. If you’ve been working on one assignment for hours and can feel yourself losing focus and patience, it’s probably time to switch to something else. This is simple and classic advice that everyone has heard a million times. And it’s cliche for a reason, it’s true. I’ve found myself to be much more productive when I set smaller goals for each assignment.
Write an outline for the History paper.
Gather quotes from the novel for the English paper.
Complete the first three pages of the study guide.
Switching between assignments greatly helps me maintain a steady pace and while also making progress on each of them. Having small, achievable goals that I’m able to consistently fulfill creates a solid trajectory of accomplishment: I keep going if I feel like I’m actually getting things done.
2. TAKE Breaks
I mean it.
“No, I need to be up till 5:00 AM studying for this exam or else I’ll be wasting critical time sleeping…” Shhhhhh. Shhh. My point from above still stands: you will drive yourself crazy if you don’t have any variety. I never felt super confident scheduling breaks because I didn’t know when I “deserved” to have one (which is also a problem – you don’t need to deserve rest!). The Pomodoro method really helped me in implementing regular breaks into my study habits. There are different variations of it but the gist is: set a timer for twenty-five minutes to focus on a task, take a five minute break once the time goes off, repeat. It’s simple, it’s consistent, and makes you take care of yourself.
The Pomodoro method specifically doesn’t work for everyone, so it’s important to find other ways to incorporate breaks into your schedule if it doesn’t work for you. Setting aside specific times to have meals while not doing any work is great. Reading a chapter of a book or going on a walk are also fantastic options. I try to pick moments when there will be a clear start and end time so that I’m able to relax but also don’t get too carried away from my work. I highly recommend going to one of the hundreds of Oberlin hot chocolate/cookie study breaks! I almost always run into someone I know for a chat and it can be truly invigorating to vent together.
3. Make Time to Have Fun
Reading period is always bittersweet for me because it’s the last time I’m gonna see some of my friends for a while. Especially this semester because I’ll be studying abroad in the spring. Having plans to see friends or attend an event, even if it’s not the most conducive to studying, is a great motivation to get work done ahead of time so that you won’t be stressed during your plans. Study hard during the day so you can watch a movie with your friends in the evening! I tend to push myself better when I have something specific to look forward to. I also always find that I regain my energy after spending time with friends — it’s a great way to refuel.
4. It Doesn’t Have to be Perfect.
When I start mining a paper for minute problems or just staring at it, hoping some grand improvement will come to me — I turn it in. If you really make an effort in a class, it’ll show. Your professors know that you’re working hard and nobody expects you to write the next, literary-canon-defining theory. Sometimes, an assignment doesn’t need to be great. It just needs to be done. And that’s okay! I’ve come to realize that not every single piece of my work needs to be emblematic of who I am. Good enough is still good. Once again, I circle back to my mom’s advice: just do your best. That’s the most you can do after all. My mom is a smart lady.
