BY RACHEL GALATIS
It’s the time of year when students are swamped with studying, writing papers, and working on projects to end the semester.
Finals begin on Friday December 9, and end on Thursday December 15. Students will have a reading day after the last day of classes, which end on Wednesday December 7.
Nick Flamos, a senior, said that studying in 45-minute intervals with 15-minute breaks has helped him take both times to focus, while also making sure he has that mental relief.
“I used to study in advance for exams mainly at night and I noticed that I usually stressed myself out when it came to the night before the exam,” he said. “I’ve found that I can focus more and retain more information during the day and then reviewing at night only reinforces it for the next day.”
Flamos isn’t the only one who believes taking breaks is important. The school offers a lot of on campus activities and resources to help students deal with the stress that come with time management to ensure everything gets done on time, some of which include late night breakfast, gingerbread houses and hot cocoa, and limited tutoring hours.
Flamos said that he recommends studying with friends because it can be useful to bounce ideas off someone else who may have a different point of view on the material to further prepare for the exam.
“I would highly recommend booking a small study space in the library. There are very few distractions there and you can book them with your friends if you want to study together,” he said.
The library is hosting a “Five Days of Finals” event for “taking a study break and stress relief.” The five days begins on Friday December 9, and will include programming from Friday until Wednesday. Events include Pet Therapy, make your own Ornaments, Mario Kart Activity with the Gaming Club, Yoga in the DisCo, a movie night in the library with refreshments, Health and Wellness Mindfulness Activities and Counseling Services hosting “Make your own Relaxation Kit,” according to Maria Sullivan, the director of the Office of Health and Wellness.
Study rooms are available seven days a week and can be booked once a day for an hour and a half per person.
To students preparing for finals, the Office of Health and Wellness on campus is offering programs and tips to help students prepare. One of the programs will be a walk/jog with the “Run for Fun” club, which will be giving away complimentary jingle bells, gift card raffles, and refreshments to participants.
Sullivan said the office is encouraging students to get enough sleep, eat well, stay hydrated, and get some exercise over the next couple of weeks to ensure healthy habits.
“Study sessions that include breaks for hydration, nutrition, movement, fresh air, brain rest and sleep are important to optimize brain function, processing, memory and your overall health,” she said. “Having more time to stay organized and focus on reviewing one topic at a time and having time to rest and recover after each final exam has been shown to optimize performance.”
The library will have extended hours during finals to give students more time to spread out their work if they need a place to study later at night.
Sullivan said it is important to prioritize goals one step at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
“Break down big projects or test preparation activities into small “to-do” items; write them down in a list and check them off as you go,” she said. “This will help you reach your goals and boost your confidence as you conquer your list one item at a time.”