How to Study (When the Sky is Falling)

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We only have a month to go! We only have a month to go! It’s the end of spring semester, which is college code for THE FINAL COUNTDOWN. All your assignments are due, final projects, final pieces, final performances, final games, and final exams are all here and coming for us. Right when you think you have free time, BOOM you forgot to write your report due Sunday at 11pm! The sun’s out later and your mood has picked up. Walk around and breath in the fresh air, because you’re going to spend all night in the library. How do you juggle these events? How do you keep from being stressed? How do you study when the sky is falling? Don’t worry fellow kohawks, I’ve also reached level-100 stress, and we will survive this together. Here are five ways to keep those grades up this month.

1. Go for a walk
I don’t care if you go downtown or to the moon, get outside and out of your stuffy dorm. The weather’s nice and some time away from your usual study space will help you de-stress, giving you time to get your head together. Read a book, talk with your friends, meet with your professors, and pet some puppies (puppies forever). The sun has a way of opening up your heart and making you feel joy. If it's raining, put on your boots and bring out your umbrella. This is your break; this is your free time.

2. Do what must be done today
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, organization is key. I don’t know about you, but taking the time to write down my assignments and making my checklist helps me moderate my anxiety. I already have due dates noted, but I do have classes where work is assigned daily, and it’s not the kind of work you can get ahead on. I make a list of what absolutely must be done today, then check them off as I go. Get those assignments done on time, it is April after all.

3. Make a list of what to study
What do you need to study for? See which test is soonest, and which one will take the most time. Maybe you can solve equations easily, but the vocab always stumps you. Maybe you only have exams, and you haven’t studied at all for the final. You may not love lists, but cramming the night before is not an effective method, so think ahead.

4. Schedule the time you need
Any gaps in your schedule? Fill them with study times. I work the closing shift two days out of the week, which puts me behind in my homework. It’s a domino effect. Time from work could’ve been homework, and time for homework could’ve been studying. It’s even harder when you need to work to pay for tuition, room and board, and the meal plan, stay alive, clean your room, AND attend class, AND do your homework, AND (yes) study. But if you don’t even try to make the time for it, it simply won’t get done.

5. Pat yourself of the back
Doing your best counts as an achievement. Being a college student is hard. A lot of us are first generation, a lot of us have jobs, and a lot of us struggle to manage our responsibilities on top of these factors. Even so, you’re doing great. I mean it. It’s great to feel the support of the people who care about me, and even complete strangers, so I’m telling you you’re doing great. Keep up the good work, and don’t kill yourself doing it.

I hope you find these tips helpful. This is what I do when I’m most stressed. You can still watch YouTube and Netflix (or Hulu or Crunchyroll), but you know you have to get your work done, and you’ll feel so much better once it is. Remember not to “relax” for too long, I fear you may be procrastinating… Have a nice day!

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