Breeze Through Your Finals — REFINE Magazine

By: Lilly Werling

We can’t ignore it any longer: finals are upon us. But there is no reason to panic!

Whether you’re a freshman who is new to studying, or you're just still getting the hang of things (we all are to some extent!), these are some tips compiled from myself and other Temple students to help you prepare for your exams.

How to Study

Let’s get the hard part out of the way — where do you even start when it comes to studying?

The first thing I can say is critical is time management. Temple offers students a study day on Tuesday Dec. 12, in which no classes are held. The weekend is another resource for studying, albeit a sacrifice. I don’t like the idea of giving up my weekend either, but it’s easier knowing in less than two weeks it will all be over until the next finals season. Utilize the time you have away from classes to work on assignments and studying. Your best work will be done when you take your time and work bit by bit each day.

Not using my time wisely was the mistake I made during my freshman year. Not everyone has a final every day, and some people may even have a few days in between their last class and first final or due date. My first semester of college I scheduled myself to work 40 hours the week before my finals and ended up failing a class because of it. After that, I made school my first priority. I can guarantee I lost more money having to retake that class than I gained from that week at work.

Once you’ve allocated enough time to get it all done – how do you keep track of everything?

Alice Newman, a junior at Temple, said she makes a list of all her assignments organized by due date, to help her stay on top of her tasks. Alexa Leviten, a sophomore, shared she uses a rewards system to help keep her motivated.

To get in your zone, it’s a good idea to limit distractions. Put your phone on do not disturb, or even move it out of reach. Only have tabs open that correspond with what you’re working on at the current moment. But, it can also be helpful to work on your less taxing assignments when you feel like you need a break.

Leviten and Newman agreed on the importance of taking breaks while studying. Listen to your body. If you’re hungry, go eat. If you’re tired, take a rest. If you hate sitting down for hours at a time, go on a walk! Try to avoid excessive screen time on your break, which won’t be easy, but that’s okay. It’s a stressful time, but we don’t have to overwork ourselves. Taking productive and relaxing breaks will help you feel better and do better work.

Places to Study on Campus

Another way to motivate yourself is to get out of your room! It’s not always the easiest to pull yourself out of bed, especially now that it's getting colder. But there are many places on campus that are perfect for studying, whether you want silence or aren’t bothered by noise.

If you haven’t explored the Charles Library yet, now is your chance. From private study rooms to bigger rooms for quiet chatter, the library has a spot for every type of student. There are four floors, on each one you can choose from couches, bean bags, or desks to sit at. If you want a study room for you or a group of friends, you can book one in advance online.

Although the library is a great place to get work done, and probably my first choice, it tends to fill up around this time of the year. If facing a crowd of people is going to stress you out even more, I understand. Most academic buildings on campus also have areas for studying. The hours may not be as flexible as the library, but you can usually find a quiet place during the day.

The TECH Center is also a great resource for studying. The technology and computers are available for all students to use. It may be nice to do work on a larger screen using the desktops. Another benefit of the TECH Center is their printing room. If you need to print anything that is over 25 pages for your final, or anytime throughout the year, visit the second floor.

Other Healthy Habits

Ava Cunningham, an international graduate student from Ireland advises students to pay attention to more than just their studies. She said exercise and sleep are important too. In times of stress, we tend to forget about the things that make us healthy.

Don’t self-sabotage! A study by the University of British Columbia showed that regular exercise helps the brain improve its memorization and learning skills.

The last and perhaps most significant practice I will recommend is to stay positive and be kind to yourself. This time is a struggle for all of us. There is nothing beating yourself up can accomplish.

And if at this point you still think you are absolutely screwed, take a deep breath. Do the best you can and if it doesn’t go the way you want it to, make the corrections for next semester. Good luck, you will get through this!