Finals is a stressful period for college students. In order to best prepare yourself for this important time in your life, you must learn your material well. You do this by approaching it efficiently.
Learn smart for finals
Important tip: don’t try to learn everything at once and don’t try to cram too much information in your head per study session. Instead, study at intervals of 20 to 50 minutes and take breaks of 5 to 10 minutes after each study session. by doing it like this, you are able to absorb more material – straight into your long-term memory, where you want it to be!
Eat healthy
When you’re studying for your finals, your brains use a lot of glucose. A good breakfast is the right way to start your day, every day. Your breakfast ideally consists of high carbs, high fiber. Choose something that is slowly digested, such as oatmeal. Oatmeal gives you a more fulfilled feeling than for example cereals. Besides, cereals often still contain a lot of sugar.
Oh yeah in the mean time, don’t forget to eat at least two pieces of fruits and vegetables a day!
Also don’t forget to give your body a chance to generate more fuel to continue studying: take a 5 minute break every hour and eat a healthy snack. There are several snacks to choose from:
- Nuts
Nuts are an excellent source of fiber and protein. By eating a handful of nuts, you give your body a quick energy boost while studying for your finals. Choose almonds, pistachios, cashews or just peanuts – preferably unsalted. - Berries
Craving something sweet? Eat some berries! Chock-full of antioxidants and phytonutrients – they have a positive effect on your brain. by eating berries, you improve the bloodstream to your brains, improving your overall performance. - Dark chocolate
Feel like eating chocolate? Be sure to eat dark chocolate – preferably with a higher percentage of cacao. Dark chocolate is good for your brains and helps your concentrate on your study material. Moreover, dark chocolate contains antioxidants (beneficial for your immune system) and endorphins (anti-depressant).
Don’t forget exercise
Did you know that when you exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, that the effects will last up to 12 hours? Think of walking, jogging, (indoor) biking, skating etc. So making regular exercise a habit will definitely benefit your studies. And as an added bonus, you will be able to handle stress better.
Of course, exercising well means you also have to rest well. Going to bed on time is essential – always, but especially during finals week. To make sure you sleep well, you should not consume any caffeine or energy drinks.
About 30 minutes before going to bed, make sure you turn off all electric devices, such as your computer, laptop, smartphone etc. The blue light they emit disrupts your sleep.
And finally, make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep per night. If more, even better!
Conclusion
Learning for your finals week will require some time and dedication. By following the tips in this article, you are well on your way making life easier for yourself. stick to a consistent routine that includes enough time to study, exercise, rest and sleep. Pay attention to what you eat and you will be sure to achieve high grades!
