Spring semester is nearing its end. Formal, Greek Week and Shamrock have come and gone, and the weather outside is starting to taunt you. The inevitable desire to bask in the sun on the quad between classes is in your future. But this can only mean one thing….FINALS.

Finals week can be rough, so we’ve put together a few tips to help you survive!

1. Get to the Library ASAP. You’ll probably want to stay in the same cubicle you’ve been studying in all year, right? Well, little did you know the entire school would be in the library during finals week. I’ve heard stories of people waking up just to put their books down and going back to bed for a few hours to snag that prime study seat. Don’t expect to walk in at 11 a.m. with your coffee and find an open spot.

2. Remember to take breaks. It’s best to take 5-10 minute breaks every hour so your mind won’t burn out quite as quickly. Do some stretches or go outside! Fresh air can reduce stress. Generation Z likes to multitask. It can be extremely difficult when you want to accomplish five things at once and you need to focus on just one task. Resist the urge to multitask by taking quick breaks to refresh your mind.

3. Sleep. All the caffeine in the world can’t replace a good night’s sleep. Don’t overdo it with the energy shots in your Starbucks. I know this doesn’t always seem plausible, but if you must stay up and pull an all-nighter, make sure you find some time to get in a decent nap.

4. Eat well. Nourish your body. No one reaches for chocolate chip pancakes faster than I do, but during this time you need to nourish those brain cells, especially if you’re sleeping less than usual. Buy some fruits and veggies! Meal prep before the week begins so you can grab a quick, healthy meal to keep you energized. Remember to drink plenty of water. Water can energize you just as much, if not more, than coffee and caffeine can.

5. Use your support. Finals can be insanely stressful. Utilize your support system — your friends, sisters, roommates and family. Take time to give them a call when you need to hear something great about yourself. Don’t forget about the university support as well! If professors offer extra review sessions or the learning center offers reviews of your essays — use that to your advantage.

6. Keep focused. The reverse of focusing too intensely is not being able to focus at all. It might seem extreme to silence your social media for an entire week, but consider utilizing it as a reward during your “you time.” You might even consider deactivating your Facebook, Instagram or Twitter — whatever you use most. I’ve seen friends give their passwords to their best friends so they can keep them from wasting time scrolling through newsfeeds. As Generation Z, we are technology-reliant. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to you; however, Gen Z has put technology in the same category as air and water. Though it seems absolutely impossible to silence your social media, challenge yourself to disconnect for the sake of your grades.Thanks to LDC Meredith Duncan for sending over this link. Try https://getcoldturkey.com  to handle muting your social media for you!

7. Double check your exam times. Though it seems simple, I can’t tell you the amount of times on the road I’ve heard horror stories about members missing their finals. Since most exam schedules are a bit different than your regular class schedule, double- and triple-check the times of your finals. Write them down in places you know you’re sure to see. You don’t want to be the student who walks into a final late or not at all.

8. Exercise! If exercise is important to you, it’s OK to leave it in your schedule during finals week. Vigorous exercise can help relieve some of the stress that builds up throughout the week — so make sure to keep your fitness goals in your routine if you need to.

Surviving finals week might seem impossible at first but, trust me, it’s anything but. Remember to stay on task, work hard, eat well and make time to rest. Soon, it will all be over, and you can feel confident that your grades will reflect the work you did all semester long!

Cristina Attard
Theta Alpha-Quinnipiac
Senior Leadership Development Consultant