… to take things one day at a time.

Ally Formeller | Columnist

Finals week inevitably means constantly studying for exams and finishing term papers. Looking at a full week’s worth of work is anxiety-inducing and stressful. It can become hard to focus on what you need to get done. 

Take finals one day at a time. Map out exactly what you need to do in order to get everything done by the due date or earlier — writing one or two pages of a paper or studying one chapter a day is a lot more manageable than trying to finish everything all at once. Knowing exactly what you have to do each day makes it easier to focus since you won’t be as worried about how everything else will get done. 

Being focused on the smaller pieces will also help you work more efficiently, and can help you do well on assignments. Don’t wait until the last minute to start working on assignments or studying, just take your workload day by day, and you’ll feel a lot less stressed about what you need to get done.

… to get adequate sleep.

Abigail Lamoreaux | Copy Editor

Granted, finding anyone with a solid sleep schedule on a college campus is next to impossible. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to stick to a sleep schedule.

Scientifically, it helps balance one’s circadian rhythm, which is a fancy title for our internal daily clock. This internal clock is a system in your brain that tells your body when to produce certain hormones necessary for brain function, relaxation before bed and more. When one’s circadian rhythm is disrupted, hormone production suffers, and so does one’s mind.

Sleep is also essential for retaining and processing information. Allowing yourself the time to go into REM sleep will improve cognition and clarity of thought. In this stage, your brain filters out all unnecessary information and emotions gathered from the day. REM sleep benefits your test-taking skills as well as your overall mental health.

Finally, some reminders: All-nighters do more harm than good. Coffee and energy drinks are but a temporary savior.