By: Emily Meyer
Wow, has this been a crazy school year! From distanced learning to modified in-person classes, we have all had to adjust how we learn and modify our study habits. As the semester comes to an end, here as some finals week tips, tricks, and resources to help you finish off the semester strong.
Finals week is stressful for everyone and it’s important to take care of yourself throughout the week. One of the biggest studying tips is in fact not about studying. It’s recommended that to test well you need to get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated, and fuel yourself with healthy food. It’s important to take study breaks often so you don’t overload your brain. It’s also important to take a minute to get outside and do some exercise to help stimulate your body after spending a lot of time sitting in front of a computer. You might even want to try doing some meditation to help you destress and refocus.
When it comes to studying for your finals and retaining information, there are many tips to help you study smarter, not harder. One thing that I found super helpful is coming up with my own means to memorize information. Whether it’s color coordinating similar information, making flashcards, using diagrams, or relating information to outside ideas, coming up with a system that works for you is a game-changer. Another tip for retaining information is to read passages and readings out loud or to someone else so that you are not only skimming the information but hearing it. Handwriting information out instead of typing will also help you retain the information better.
There are also some tricks you can do to help you work more efficiently. One thing that is recommended is chewing the same flavor of gum when studying and taking your exam. This helps jog your memory. This also works with scents like perfumes. Another trick is to use Times New Romans font as it’s one of the quickest and easiest fonts to read, helping you revise your papers faster.
Even with all the tricks and tips out there, finals week will still be stressful. Luckily, here at UW-Stevens Point, you don’t have to go through it alone. During a normal year, the on-campus library would host Exam Cram, an event to help you get through the week. This year, Exam Cram is virtual! The Virtual Exam Cram has everything from tutoring and research assistants, to videos of therapy dogs, to virtual escape rooms, games and more! Go explore all the library is offering for Exam Cram here.
I hope these tips and tricks have been helpful! Make sure you check out the Virtual Exam Cram for all your finals week needs. Best of luck everyone!
