Finals are such a difficult part of everyone’s life. The unnecessarily long essays, multiple choice questions, and fill in the blanks bring thousands of young people into a serious mode of studying every year. Your finals don’t have to be a burden. Here are some tips and tricks that can help make studying for finals easier:

Be organized from the start: Find a calendar and jot down each exam that you have. Knowing the days and times of every exam can help you better plan out your studying so that you don’t feel overwhelmed with information. It’s always best to start studying for an exam about a week before you take it.

Get some sleep: While an all-nighter seems like the best thing to do before that big test, a good night's sleep can help you be refreshed the day of the exam. Try your best to get 8 hours of sleep in the night so that you are ready mentally to take on any of your exams.

Take breaks: Don’t let your studying go by without taking a few breaks in between. A good way to make sure that this is accomplished is by following the 50-10 rule. For every 50 minutes that you study, try to take 10 minutes to relax and clear your mind.

Eat Healthy: While chips, soda, and energy drinks sound like great “tools” for studying, your body needs nutrients more than ever. Drink plenty of water and stick to snacks and foods that are good for your body.

Study with other people if it works best for you: Studying with friends can be great, but if you know that they will only be a distraction them let your study group be a party of one. Don’t be afraid to say no to the study group if you think that you won’t get enough studying done.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions: Your professors and TA’s have been the go to people for any questions that you may have the entire year. Their help doesn’t stop as soon as exams come up. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about things that may not fully make sense to you. It’s better to get help and know the right answer than wonder about it on the day of your test.



Editing Note: This article did not filter through the normal EmpowHER editing and fact checking process. It was checked for spelling and grammar.

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