There’s no word in the English language that strikes fear into the hearts of college students as significantly as:
FINALS.
No matter how hard your study throughout the year, or don’t, finals are the last stop to achieving academic success.
It’s no surprise that college students around the world begin to experience the ill-effects of anxiety during this time of year.
Even though this is a universal experience, it doesn’t have to be a stressful one.
With some good planning, self care and a little extra help, you can easily survive the finals season by staying calm and focused:
1. Schedule Your Study Time
Being in college is more than just focusing on academics – it’s a chance to learn about independence and freedom.
However, being newly independent can create a lack of accountability, especially when it comes to hunkering down and studying for your finals.
So if you’ve strayed from studying throughout the semester to enjoy your social life, now is the time to get serious about hitting the books.
To hold yourself accountable for studying, use a schedule to plan out every day for a week or two before your finals.
When you schedule in your study times, focus on setting specific goals for each session. For example, you can dedicate each day to a subject and list out tasks such as reviewing chapters, writing summaries and looking over class notes.
Once you see your study schedule written out and organized, the actual task of sitting down to study will seem less overwhelming.
2. Don’t Forget About Self Care
Focusing on studying doesn’t mean you need to lock yourself up in your room and live as a hermit until finals are over.
Although organizing your study schedule can help to alleviate some of the stress associated with finals, you still need to take care of yourself.
Ignoring your self care is going to allow the stress of studying to affect the actual act of studying. If you don’t find a way to let off steam, you’re going to experience a significant dip in your ability to focus and concentrate.
Make sure you set aside time in your schedule to partake in activities you enjoy. This could be hanging out with friends, playing some video games or even getting some physical exercise.
Self care depends entirely upon what you like to do to feel calm and relaxed. Balancing your studies with your own personal enjoyment will significantly reduce your anxiety and stress.
3. Use CBD Oils
There’s nothing wrong with turning to CBD oils in order to take the edge of the anxiety when it comes to finals – as long as you do so safely.
Always talk to your doctor about any allergies or pre-existing medical conditions before trying CBD products.
CBD oil can benefit studying by both reducing the stressors and increasing your concentration and focus.
For instance, you may be suffering from generalized anxiety, sleeplessness or even nerve pain that is making it difficult for you to focus on studying. CBD oil can positively address these issues, improving the quality of your study time.
Alternatively, CBD oils help to relax your mind, making it easier to concentrate and focus on the material you are trying to absorb.
The beauty of CBD oils is that there are a variety of ways in which to ingest them. You can simply place a drop under your tongue, vape them or even eat them in edible form.
However you choose to consume CBD oil, be sure you start with small doses to see how the product will affect you – especially if you have never tried them before.
Nailing Those Finals
While we looked at how to quell anxiety and stay calm and stressed during your finals, here are some additional tips to ensure you pass those tests with flying colors:
- Start your day by studying the harder material first.
- Find a quiet and distraction-free study spot.
- Make a practice exam.
- Read upside down and out loud – this will help you focus more intently on the material.
- Ask questions if you don’t understand the material.
- Play classical music while you study to improve your concentration.
- Write out your study notes instead of typing them.
- Color-code your study material.
- Watch videos related to your study material.
Remember that everyone learns differently, so it’s important for you to find a style of studying that works for you!
Conclusion
As long as you find effective ways to reduce your anxiety, you’ll have no problems studying for and passing your finals.
If all else fails, just take a deep breath. It’s a hectic time, but you can make it through!
