Even though finals are weeks away, the end of the semester will come more quickly than you realize. Use the next few weeks to prepare so you can be as productive and relaxed as possible during end-of-semester rush.
Here are a few tips from Learning at Iowa to help you prepare.
Get the most out of your study time
As a busy college student, you are balancing multiple classes, jobs, activities, and responsibilities. Take some time now to evaluate your study strategies and reflect on how you learn best:
Planning: Schedule regular times for studying and reviewing material for the next few weeks, especially for cumulative finals. Set specific goals for each study session so you can easily assess if you are being productive.
Monitoring: As you study, ask yourself: are there any topics or concepts you are confused about? Are you able to stay focused in your study location? Do you need to take advantage of office hours, tutoring, or Supplemental Instruction?
Evaluating: Ask yourself, what study strategies worked well for you in your current courses? What did not work well? What can you learn from your preparation for previous assignments or exams?
CLAS student tip: Moving from space to space periodically can be a helpful, refreshing start for your brain. Check out some of these on-campus Academic Student Success Centers offered by CLAS.
For more information, check out:
Proactively combat burnout
Procrastination is common, and is often related to burnout. Act proactively to avoid burnout by using these tricks:
Enter deadlines for all your remaining assignments and exams into your planner. Set up reminders leading up to those deadlines so you can space out your learning.
Make learning a daily habit by breaking down assignments into smaller goals that you can complete within 45-60 minutes. For example, plan to finish the first three problem sets in an assignment. Then, take it one task at a time.
If you find it hard to get started, try setting a five-minute timer and get to work. Once that time is up, ask yourself if you could continue working on it for another 10 minutes and see if you can maintain your focus.
Reward yourself when you accomplish your study goals for the day. This will help you celebrate your progress and motivate you to do it again!
For more information, check out:
Getting unstuck - Procrastination Interactive Worksheet
CLAS student tip: Don’t overdo it by doing too much too soon. Force yourself to take breaks. Though you may feel like you don’t have the time, you will work more efficiently if you allow your brain the proper amount of rest.
Manage your stress levels
To keep up your motivation during busy times of the semester, ask yourself:
Remind yourself of past academic challenges that you’ve overcome, such as skills or course content that you worked hard to learn even though it was difficult at first. Change doesn't happen overnight, so stay positive and consistent.
If you are struggling with motivation for a particular course, consider how that class may help you achieve a longer-term goal, like fulfilling major requirements or preparing you for a competitive internship.
Give yourself permission to ask questions and reach out for help from your support team (instructors, advisors, peers, family, etc.).
Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating and exercising regularly, and taking breaks to do things not related to your academics!
For more information, check out:
CLAS student tip: During spring semester especially, take the opportunity to study outside when it's warm! Spending more time in the sun can increase your mood and sleep quality, making studying a less difficult task overall. The Office of Sustainability and the Environment offers blankets for students to check out to enjoy lounging on the Pentacrest lawn.
Good luck with the end of your semester. For more information on productive studying, visit the Learning at Iowa website.