Coming back from Thanksgiving break, I’ve caught myself thinking that the semester is practically over, with Christmas less than a month away. But, like every other college student at this time of the semester, I find myself approaching the Mordor of the semester—more commonly known as finals week. This is now my third finals week as a college student, and I like to think that I’ve started to grasp which methods and tips work best for me. I thought I’d share some of my most helpful ones with you! 

Tip 1: Study ahead in small chunks 

While cramming may seem the most time-effective study method, it should be no surprise that it isn’t the ideal study plan for finals. I’ve found that breaking up studying into hour-long sessions days or even weeks before major exams helps me comprehend the material far more thoroughly than trying to cram my brain with more stuffing than a roasted turkey on Christmas day.  

To help me keep my mind engaged, I try to employ a study technique known as the Pomodoro technique. It’s essentially a study cycle where I set a timer for 25 minutes and try to focus as intently as possible on my work. After 25 minutes, I set another timer for 5 to 10 minutes, which I utilize to take a break. I then repeat this process 2-3 times. Not only do these study breaks come frequently, but they also help me stay focused for longer.  

Tip 2: Avoid dopamine 

I’ve done it more times than I’d like to admit. I’ve sat down looking to enjoy a productive study session but found myself checking Instagram or TikTok before locking in. Before I knew what was happening, an hour had passed, and I hadn’t even touched my studies. When I finally opened my laptop to start, I found myself unable to focus and getting distracted easily. 

Does this sound familiar to you? I talked briefly with one of my good friends, Weston, who’s a neuroscience major here at Anderson. I learned from him the importance of keeping your dopamine levels low before studying. When you ‘doom scroll’ before trying to have a productive study session, you’re actively giving your brain high levels of dopamine, which can be disastrous when you try to suddenly switch to studying, a low dopamine activity.  

I’ve recently implemented this in my own day-to-day workflow and found the difference astonishing. I’m focused for much longer than I normally am and find it far easier to find my flow. I’ve also started putting my phone in do-not-disturb while studying to hide notifications until my next five-minute break to help keep me focused.  

Tip 3: Learn how you learn! 

As I’ve grown in studying for exams, I’ve noticed that I do things differently than some of my friends. When they may need to talk through the material with a friend or diagram everything out on a whiteboard, I prefer to write things out on physical flashcards as it is the most effective method for me to retain information. Believe me, I’m guilty of using Quizlet’s automatically generated flashcards based on my notes, but there’s something about writing them out by hand that helps me remember things differently than just clicking buttons on my computer.  

Besides reading and writing, there are three other common learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Ultimately, finding what type of learner you are is the most important thing when it comes to being successful on your exams.  

Bonus Tip: Get good sleep and drink coffee! 

Getting enough sleep is vital to studying well because my mental capacity decreases significantly if I’m tired and unable to focus. As well as sleeping well, coffee, and especially caffeine’s nootropic (cognitive) properties, can help increase my focus and keep me alert. 

As we wearily trod to the finish line, let us look to the soon-to-come break as much-needed motivation to study well. I hope these study tips are helpful as you prepare for your final exams!