Getting Ready for Finals One Step at a Time

By Ana Acosta, Managing Editor

The time has come to start preparing for final exams. The Fall semester is coming to an end and students need to get rid of any distractions and look over their notes in order to prepare just in time. Now get that worried face out of the way because we have some study tips for you.

• Start now, not later: Do not leave everything for the night before. Study when you are most alert for an hour everyday for a week, instead of eight hours the night before finals. Once you’ve got the hang of things, you can spend more time on the things that are more difficult for you to learn or understand. Leaving everything for the night before can lead to more stress and is tiring for your mind and body. Which leads to the next tip…

• Get enough sleep: If you don’t get enough sleep then your brain will not consolidate new information or knowledge, especially if you leave studying for the night before. The more sleep you get, the more you can retain. Sleep will nourish your mind and body.

• Alternate where you study: To avoid getting bored of the same setting every time you study, alternate the locations. If you grow tired of being in your bedroom or home, especially since the campus is currently closed, try going to Panera Bread or a Starbucks. If you prefer studying in a quiet space, then find a public library near you or go to the Student Conference Center at the Lone Star College-Kingwood campus.

• Form a study group: Now, if you get tired of studying alone then gather up some buddies and form a study group. You can help each other with memorization and understanding a topic. This is why it is important to make friends in class. If you don’t feel like joining a study group but don’t understand a topic, then do not hesitate to ask your professor for help. They can’t help you if they don’t know.

• Get creative: Whether you’re alone or with a study group, grab some colorful sticky notes or a whiteboard to change your method of studying. Try making it look colorful in a way that will help you understand the topic. If you are in a course that requires you to memorize where things are on a plant cell or on a microscope, then draw out the image and label it in different colors to help you. Not everything has to be in black and white.

• Avoid distractions: If your cellphone is what distracts you the most, then turn it off and put it away. Forget about social media, emails, television, etc. for an hour a day. Don’t let it get in the way. Preventing distractions ahead of time will help you focus longer. By making your area distraction free and quiet, you increase your ability to study focus and concentrate.

These few tips are here to hopefully motivate you and get you to start studying for your finals. If you find yourself with no motivation, read our article on 7 Tips to Stay Motivated & Avoid Procrastination. It is important to begin now and not leave everything last minute because if you fail, then you’ll most likely have to retake the course again. Do you really want to do that?