For many students final exams are around the corner. Â Â Whether you take them this month or after the new year, now is a time to plan.
In her book, College Study Skills: Becoming a Strategic Learner, Dianna L. Van Blerkom gives the following suggestions:
- Put academics first this week (Don’t try to focus on family, friends, volunteer efforts or work, unless those activities give you energy and help you to accomplish your studies).
- Find out how much weight your teacher/professor gives to the final. Â Prioritize those finals that can change your grade one way or the other.
- Manage your stress as best you can (getting good sleep and exercise can help).
- Use time management strategies: schedule and plan each day…try to live by your plan.
- Ten days before final exams, make a to-do list of any outstanding assignments and work hard to accomplish those tasks before finals week.  Finishing these assignments in advance will help you when it’s time to study.  You’ll be able to focus without worrying about leftover assignments hanging over your head.
- Make a calendar for before, during and after.  As you try to stick with your plan (#4), try to live by your calendar, within reason.  A flexible schedule can help.  It’s possible some of your studying will take more or less time than you thought.
- Ask for time off from work. Â Use a vacation day if you need it.
- Stay healthy. Â Eat well, exercise and get enough sleep. Â Beware of all-nighters and pace yourself.
- Plan rewards. Â What will you do when you turn in your last paper, after you take your last final? Â Treat yourself: be with your friends, play, dance, sleep in and take a long, hot shower. Â You did it!
As you might imagine, Astrid can assist you with a number of these strategies.  We’re here to help you succeed, whether creating lists or tasks, giving gentle and playful reminders, or letting others know what you hope to accomplish and inviting their support.  All of us at Astrid have been through finals week and we know about the stress, but we also know about how fulfilling it is to accomplish your educational goals.  We wish you good luck and invite you to share how Astrid contributes to your success!