The end is in sight and you鈥檙e almost done! With just a couple weeks left of the semester, it鈥檚 normal to feel stressed or anxious as you get ready for finals. I want to assure you there is still plenty of time to finish the semester strong.
Dean of Students Sandy Jones
While this time can feel overwhelming, your fellow Buffs have strategies and tips to help. I鈥檇 like to share some advice from Olivia Wittenberg, one of your student body presidents, on getting ready for finals:
鈥淔inals can be rough. Here is some advice I live by to help me get through the week:
- Situate your study space in the proximity of caffeine and food. This way you don鈥檛 have to waste time walking somewhere to get sustenance.
- Drink half of a bottle of water (about 16 ounces) for every cup of coffee. This will allow you to get the caffeine energy fix you need without feeling jittery.
- Take care of yourself! No grade is worth losing your mental health over. Be kind to your body and give it the sleep, food and deep breathing it needs to reach your goals!鈥�
If you鈥檙e having trouble getting started on a project or paper, plan a strategy for your study sessions. You can start by breaking big projects down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Nadyah Spahn, a peer wellness coach with Health Promotion, offers this study strategy:
鈥淪tart small and build your way up when studying for finals. I鈥檝e always found that it鈥檚 easiest to start studying a few weeks before finals, and then study a little bit every day. I usually start by studying 15 minutes a day for each class, and then gradually increasing it to around half an hour or forty-five minutes as it gets closer to finals time. I鈥檝e found that I remember more by studying each day than cramming it all in right before finals.鈥�
Our minds and bodies work best when we take care of them. Plan for seven hours of sleep each night, pack some healthy snacks and take breaks to get some light exercise. Taking care of ourselves during stressful times can help us feel more confident and prepared going into finals. Kaley Keefe, a peer wellness coach with Health Promotion, has these words of advice:
鈥淭ake it one exam at a time. Go in with confidence knowing you have worked hard to get to where you are at and will do the very best you can. Space out your study sessions, and don鈥檛 forget to reward yourself afterward! You all got this.鈥�
And remember, colorado.edu/finals has everything you need to know to help you for the rest of the semester, including tips for managing stress, the Buff Bus finals schedule and other resources. You will also find plenty of events to help you take a break, fuel up with free food and de-stress. Be sure to swing by one of the study stops in the UMC, visit the relaxation stations at The Rec and attend Late Night Breakfast听on May 2.
Your CU 麻豆影院 community supports you, and we are all rooting for you to finish strong. Good luck鈥攜ou got this!
Sandy Jones
Dean of Students
