That's It for Finals Prep Week

... I should have studied more. Photo by flickr user brdavids

Well, friends. That's it for our Finals Prep Week. Best of luck next week with your finals. I'll be making sure to get plenty of sleep this weekend while cranking out my last few papers.

If you missed any posts, here are all of them. Good luck!

• Rewarding Yourself for Studying
• Eating Healthy and Regularly During Finals
• Punish Yourself into a Studying Frenzy
• Mixing the Ultimate Study Binge Trail Mix
• Motivate Yourself to Study by Revamping Your Workspace
• Don't Be Shut In During Finals Week
• How to Study Distraction Free
• Schedule Blocks of Study Time to Make Finals Week Less Daunting

How are your finals looking?

Schedule Blocks of Study Time to Make Finals Week Less Daunting - Finals Prep Week

Q: In one week, how do you write 600 pages and study for 18 tests?

A: One hour at a time.

When you think about how much you have to tackle during finals, it's daunting. Instead, you need to think about each piece of each assignment as a separate task. If you plan your week (or even just your day tomorrow) according to these goals, it'll keep you on track to be stress free.

Plan about a day in advance. It's probably too optimistic to plan your St. Patrick's Day right now. Too many Car Bombs will surprise you to keep that schedule rigid. Same goes for finals week -- don't over-plan, because unexpected deadlines will shift. But definitely do it the night before, at the latest. 

Visualize your day in blocks. You should use a calendar program or a hand-written grid that displays your day in blocks (see that image on the right?). That way, you can visualize where the gaps are -- and plan the gaps, so they're before tests that need cramming. 

Keep the blocks under two hours. Studies show that after 90 minutes of studing or writing a paper, your brain shrinks to 1/10th the size.** Seriously – you'll slow down a lot after a long studying binge. And keeping your blocks relatively short will force you to use time wisely. 

Get two things done before noon. (Besides brushing your teeth and shotgunning a beer.) The window between breakfast and lunch closes quickly. By scheduling two things before noon, you can be realistic about a wake-up time and feel fulfilled before your roommate even hits the snooze button. 

Schedule your breaks too. Budget time to work out, get coffee, or socialize. These stopping points will serve as rewards to push you through the menial tasks. That way, when it's time for a block of studying, you'll be figuratively hitting the books, rather than literally.

** Some studies on HackCollege are completely fabricated based on ones we think we've heard before. Deal with it.

How to Study Distraction-Free

I have an Anthropology final tomorrow. Here's what I'm doing, when I should be studying (other than writing this article): I'm on Twitter. I'm reading feeds in Google Reader. I'm answering email. I'm watching episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I could keep going, actually, but it would just make me sad. But you get the idea.

When it comes down to it, every test at one point or another forces us to that point where we've actually got to get down to studying. If that's half as hard as it is for you as it is for me, it's pretty brutal. Here are a few ways I try and eliminate distractions, so I can actually study.

Go outside

Get the few things you need, and nothing else (ideally, not a computer) and go outside. Out there, you've got nothing to distract you but nature--and that gets pretty boring after a while. I find I do my best writing, reading, and generally focusing outside, where there's no music, TV or Internet to distract me.

Force a blackout

This one's actually a little fun every once in a while. Force your power out--either unplug everything, or actually figure out a way to kill your power (in a lot of places, it's frighteningly easy to get at the circuit box; then, from there, it's just a crapshoot full of destruction in your building). Then, light a candle or rig up a flashlight-type thing, and work that way. Darkness is a spectacular focuser - if you can't see anything other than your book, what the heck's going to distract you?

I also like to wear wooden teeth and a white wig, and pretend I'm in the 1800's. I'm just kidding, I don't do that. Okay, yes I do.

Use Paper

Paper is much less distracting than computers, even if computers do get things done faster. If you're studying typed notes, consider printing them out and studying them away from your computer, and from all the pop-ups and distractions that come with computers.

Write it all down

When I get distracted, it's usually because there's something I remember I want to do, or have to do, or really should do so my apartment doesn't smell so bad anymore. If that happens to you, don't do all those things right away, but write them down. Getting them out of your head can help you zen-focus on what you need to be focused on now, knowing that the rest isn't going to get forgotten if you don't do it right now.

Roll with it

Sometimes, distractions are good things: go with them. Spend a few minutes goofing off, get it out of your system, and then get back to work in a little while, more centered and focused than ever.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I've sufficiently guilted myself into actually studying a bit for my test.

Call of Duty, anyone?

We're in the Midst of Finals Prep Week

If you haven't noticed, we're right in the midst of our Finals Prep week. Remember: breathe.

Here are the posts so far:

• Rewarding Yourself for Studying
• Eating Healthy and Regularly During Finals
• Punish Yourself into a Studying Frenzy
• Mixing the Ultimate Study Binge Trail Mix
• Motivate Yourself to Study by Revamping Your Workspace
• Don't Be Shut In During Finals Week

Good luck!

Don't Be Shut In During Finals Week - Finals Week Prep

You're doing it right.Finding a balance between serious study time and time for sanity can be extremely hard during finals week. Slaving over your desk might lead to you knowing everything there is to know about a subject, and you very well might get an A in class.  In that case, congratulations. For the people who need to get out during finals week, here are some ideas for some good clean fun because you don't want to destress by partying and show up to a final hungover.

Go See a Movie / Have a Movie Night

I suggest you see a comedy. Laughing at the movie will help you unwind, undoing all the stress built up from studying. Try to stay away from the movie refreshments. Not only are they expensive, but they will mess up the finals week healthy food groove you have hopefully gotten yourself into after reading this post. 

Have a Potluck Dinner

A good thing about fall finals is that when you get home, the Holidays are right around the corner. The bad thing about that is you can't spend that time with all the lovely people you've met at school. So for one night during finals week, have a party (without alcohol) to celebrate the end of the semester and the holidays everyone celebrates. If anyone wants to invite me to one, I make a bangin' taco dip. Just sayin'.

Do Something On Campus

Throughout the semester, you look at the bulletin boards by the elevators leading up to your room. You think: "Hey, this looks like it might be interesting," but you don't go to it because there's a party or The Office is on or whatever. Now is the time to go see something. It's important that you get out. If it's seeing an Interpretive Dance Session for Pygmy Monkeys, then go do it. It will get your mind off of studying and pique your interest in something you might want to do next semester.

See What's Going on In Town

College towns are usually the cultural center of their metropolis, county, state and other sections of territory we are all familiar with. So search the internet and newspapers, to see what's going down. Head out to a comedy club, because we all know laughter is good. Other activities like bowling, ice skating, rock climbing, laser tag, among other things will really let off some steam and help you cope with all excess cortisol being pumped into your brain. 

How do you let off steam during finals week? Comment below and share!

Image via Flickr user eyti

Motivate Yourself to Study by Revamping Your Workspace - Finals Week Prep

Sitting in front of the TV between two piles of empty beer cans with a binder on your lap is no way to study. If your desk is submerged in eight-and-a-half-by-eleven or your favorite nook in the student union is swamped these days, that's definitely not improving your chances of getting down to work.

Spend a few minutes piecing together an exciting new place to study. It'll get you amped about writing that paper or hitting the books. Try these: 

Clean your desk. It might be that layer of papers across your desk that you're procrastinating about -- not the studying. No sweat. Take everything and put it in one big pile to go through later, GTD-inbox-style. 

Redesign your workspace. On HackCollege, we've shown you a few awesome dorm desk spaces. Lifehacker features them too. Build your own study-fort and I bet you'll be ready for business. (And don't forget to send it to us.) 

Find a new coffee shop. You'll wake up without snoozing if you know you've got a 5-stars-on-Yelp coffee shop to check out this morning. Spots like that fill up quick -- so you better get there early. 

Check out the public library. During finals week, you won't find a spot to hunker down in the library -- it's packed. Luckily, the public library can be your back-up. Try your "downtown" library if you're in a big-ish city. Those are legit. 

Bars. Students tend to compartmentalize their social lives and and their school-work lives. It's totally understandable, but too many people think that means you can't go to a bar with a textbook or a laptop. Give it a try. Writing a paper with a pint of draft beer at your side is very motivating. 

[Image via bandita]

Mixing the Ultimate Study Binge Trail Mix - Finals Week Prep

Trail mix in German is "Studentenfutter," which literally means "student food." "Student food" in American is "pizza," which literally means, "You are eating bullshit. Stop that." 

I have no idea as to the origins of the German word but it's a great coincidence because this post is about how trail mix is the best study fuel out there. It's light enough to keep from bogging you down. The sugars and carbs offer a short-term energy boost and the unsaturated fats stick with you until the 4 a.m. mark. That makes it FOOD FOR THOUGHT. Really.

Plus, it's easy to store/prepare (even without a kitchen) and it's cheap -- if you mix it yourself. 

Three things to keep in mind when building your mix:

• Glucose, which comes from sugar and carbs, is what your brain feeds on. But studies show that too much will impair you instead. That means you should go easy on the dried fruits since they're sugar-coated -- raisins are particularly bad. Likewise for chocolate. 
• Caffeine is proven to help. So, that dash of chocolate is worth it, especially if you're not on coffee. 
• Don't count calories. Trail mix is high in calories. That's just how it is. During finals, dump the diet and make sure you don't go hungry. 

Customizing your concoction is actually really fun. You pretty much can't screw it up. 

Here's my recipe: 

• 1 part shelled sunflower seeds
• 1 part (loosely packed) dried cranberries
• 2 parts raw almonds
• 2 parts roasted peanuts
• And, 1 part M&M's, depending on my mood 

As I'm sure you noticed, I'm missing a few traditional mix-ins. Here are a few you can try in your own amalgamation: 

• Raisins
• Walnuts
• Chocolate
• Oats
• Granola
• Coconut
• Ginger
• Soy nuts
• Pumpkin seeds

Got your own blend? Show it off in the comments. 

Punish Yourself Into a Studying Frenzy - Finals Week Prep

I have three finals this semester, all of them next week. The way I see it, I have two options: one, I can parcel out my studying, do a bit each day, and be in great shape come the day before the exam. Or, I can wait until four hours before the exam, panic, cry, run around in circles, realize there’s now only two hours left, and sit down and study.

I choose the second one, over and over. But you shouldn’t. Set a schedule, and stick to it—one of Kelly’s is a good place to start. If you fail, punish yourself. It’s weird to say, but for me punishment works better than reward, so here’s a few ways I punish myself into studying:

• Unplug things:  if I stop studying for longer than I’m allowed, I unplug my Playstation. Next time I screw up, I unplug my stereo, By unplugging something, I can’t even use it if I want to, and not wanting to lose my Playstation for the night is pretty excellent motivation to keep going. It’s a total parenting trick, but it works pretty well on me too.
• Don’t eat: Okay, long term, not a good idea. But there’s no better motivation than “I’m starving, but have 6 more pages I have to read.” Decide at what point you get to break for food, and don’t quit until then. One midnight lunch later, you’ll stop procrastinating.
• Force more: This is my personal favorite tactic, actually. I decide that if I’ve read 100 pages by 5, I can quit. Otherwise, I have to read 200, regardless of how long it takes. I get the work done faster, and by making 100 not seem so bad, it feels like I’m getting off easy.
• Time it right: Start studying at, say, 7, and you can’t go out until you finish what you’re supposed to finish. If you’re anything like me, work expands to fill the time you give it, so if you make it finite, with something you really want to do at the end, you’re going to work a whole lot more efficiently.

The trick is to create something for yourself that you either want to do even less than study, or just that you don’t want to lose for after you’re studying. Punishing yourself should only be used sparingly, but it can be hugely helpful in actually getting your nose in the book it’s trying so hard to run away from.

How do you force yourself to study?