Photo Credit: Google Images

We only have April and May left in this semester, and the stress levels are high. Students and professors are both experiencing the effects of huge amounts of tests, projects, essays and much more. Whether you are giving the tests or taking them, there are people around campus praying for you and wishing you the best of luck.

Besides all the tests and projects we consume, we all know that the worst is yet to come: final exams. Even though finals show up at the very end of the semester, it’s never too early to think of a game plan. Personally, I’ve always been a procrastinator, and I know that many other HU students are. I can’t think of any college student who never procrastinates, but it is something we need to work on, as well as other helpful skills, if we want to survive the rest of the semester.

Here are a few survival tips you can follow to make the end of semester a little easier (and hopefully less stressful).

  1. Write down all the assignments and tests coming up in a planner or calendar. This will help keep your classes organized so you won’t forget to study or turn in something.
  1. Ask questions. If you don’t understand the topic, instructions or assignment, don’t be afraid to ask the professor. They’re the best person to ask, and they are more than happy to help.
  1. Take good notes. This is really important when it comes time for finals because if your notes are too vague or don’t make sense, studying is going to be difficult. Try your best to take clear and detailed notes during class because it will help you in the long-run.
  1. Prioritize your study/homework schedule. Whether you procrastinate or not, most of us struggle to prioritize our time. A lot of students feel like they are able to play video games or hang out with friends for hours and then cram in studying/homework time. This is why some of us don’t finish homework on time or only get three hours of sleep. The first thing you should do is check and see what the next test/assignment is for your next class and plan to study and/or do homework for it earlier in the day. Then once you complete your homework that’s due the next day at a reasonable time, you’ll have more time to have fun, hang out with friends and get more sleep.
  1. Get homework/studying done early. Similar to the last tip, getting anything done early for class will give you more time to relax and do the things you want to do.
  1. Give yourself time to relax. Even though it’s best to get things done early, there is nothing wrong with resting for a bit. It’s difficult to determine how much or how little of rest you need, because if you rest too much, nothing will get accomplished, but if you don’t rest, you’ll overwork yourself, which is not good for you. The best thing you can do is take a short breaks in between assignments and studying.

Everyone is different when it comes to finals and the end of the year. Some are excited while others may be nervous. Some may be ready to turn in their projects and take their finals, while other may not be so ready. Even if you believe that some of these tips don’t apply to you, I’m hoping that everyone can learn something from them.

Just remember, we only have April and May left. You can do this.