Do you ever wonder what could possibly make college any better than it already is? Curfews thrown out the window, late-night Taco Bell runs and the cliché, yet true, phrase of “finding yourself.” Not to mention a Starbucks on campus, waiting to rob you of $5 and your patience (but that peppermint mocha is worth every bit of it).
Of course when it comes to college, there are some downfalls, like wearing flip-flops in the shower, gaining weight from food you’re not even sure you would enjoy if you were back in your hometown (but college is all about the experience, right?) and of course, the dreadful time of the year when the entire semester of hard work, sweat and tears (why must you exist, 8 a.m. classes?) solely depends on that one Scantron: finals.
It’s easy to blow off the thought of finals during that glorious week of Thanksgiving break. It’s the time when your pants mysteriously fit a little tighter and motivation drops a little lower. Even then you’re awaiting the next extended break. So, yes, it is safe to say that most of us enter a stage of panic once the week of the “F word” arrives.
But have no fear! With some insight from the Student Health Center, the Student Success Center and your former Missouri Tigers, you will have all the tips and tricks you need to know for preparing, taking and rewarding yourself when it comes to finals.
**WHAT TO EAT**
When it comes to preparing for finals, sometimes the simplest change in your diet can make all the difference in your mood. If you drink a ton of caffeine before an exam, you are going to be easily distracted. If you eat a ton of junk food before an exam, it could lead to you feeling groggy. You get the point. Eating the right food could ultimately determine how well you will perform on an exam or final.
Andrea Kimura, health coach at the Student Health Center, provided some advice when it comes to your food consumption prior to finals.
“Stay away from simple sugars, such as processed foods, candy and fast food,” Kimura says. “After you eat simple sugars, your body reacts by going on an insulin strike, causing you to want to stop whatever you are doing and crash.”
We may then wonder, what is they key to maintaining energy? Kimura says the best thing you can do to preserve your energy is to combine carbohydrates with protein. Not only will you receive the bodily energy needed from the carbohydrates, but with the added protein, the energy will be sustained.
Given that rushing around campus is inevitable as a college student, Kimura says the best thing you can do is bring an on-the-go snack.
“Fruits and vegetables are essential in eating healthy, and smoothies are convenient and nutritious,” Kimura says.
**HOW TO STUDY**
By the time finals actually creep up, you grow desperate for any last minute studying tips, regardless of how effective they actually sound. _Oh, lying upside down with one foot in the air, rehearsing the notes over and over works? OK!_
To help clarify all of the myths about techniques in preparation for finals, MOVE consulted Mary Bixby, reading and study strategies specialist at the Learning Center.
“Do not set yourself a time frame for studying,” Bixby says. “It will result in you constantly checking your watch asking yourself, ‘How long has passed?’ Instead, set goals for yourself. Focus on a certain task and finish it before moving onto the next one.”
Overall, Bixby’s best advice to beating the anxiety overload of finals consists of blending the rehearsal and retrieval methods of studying, meaning to not only practice the information repeatedly but also to recall the content without the class notes or book.
**HOW TO REWARD YOURSELF**
From the second you hand in that piece of paper that holds far too much power, you are ready to celebrate. MOVE asked former students for some spontaneous activities they did after finals are over. The most popular answer: sleep. Aside from that, answers varied from treating themselves to a Chipotle burrito, playing “Halo” for five consecutive hours and hugging their mom.
Really, when it comes to finals, there is not an official “right” or “wrong” way to approach them. Some things are simply more evident than others. Obviously, hugging your mom is a necessity. No questions asked.
And then there are some things that students need to be reminded of — like not getting wasted the night before, not procrastinating listening to the Tegrity lectures from the class you missed and avoiding probably the most abusive thing you can do to your body: an all-nighter.
One last thing: Don’t forget to survive.
