By Caitlin Klütz
Studying for finals is difficult enough in normal times. But it turns out that studying in a world-wide pandemic turns out to be way harder than we ever thought it would be. For most students, this is the second college finals during a pandemic, and even for those who are going through their first college finals, finding the motivation and strength to keep going can be incredibly challenging. As someone with ADD, it’s hard to find useful articles to manage studying and stress without finding options other than: “Make a schedule for yourself,” “Upgrade your tech,” and “Stay organized.” I know that these typically don’t work for me, so I’ve managed to collect somewhat helpful regimens and tips for myself. If you’re like me and know that sometimes studying is hard enough on its own, these are some tips to help you study the best that you can and knock those finals out of the ballpark.
It’s Okay to Feel Overwhelmed
First and foremost, there will be days where you simply can’t focus. No matter how hard you try, there will be times when your mind will not be at it’s best, and you may not be able to get everything done from your list of things to do for the day. Prioritize what you need to get done, and give yourself a break after they finish. Maybe it’s sending an important email, writing assignment forums, feedback to classmates, completing an essay, or reading a chapter in a textbook. Whatever it may be, give yourself some slack and accomplish other things in the day that aren’t academic-related; make yourself a fancier-than-usual meal, clean your bathroom, or stretch your body with some yoga. Maintaining mental health is key to keeping yourself motivated, and that can look different for everyone.
Setting Up Space
It’s perfectly normal to feel cluttered and all over the place during a pandemic. A lot is going on in the world, and it can reflect based on the areas around us. When that clutter seeps through our lives, sometimes it can get in the way of moving forward, especially in academics. Having a space that encourages you to study is more crucial than you think. A messy room can lead to disorganized and distracting thoughts, which will prevent you from learning the best that you can. For some, having a study-filled environment may be pulling out some items that let you know that it’s time to study; certain notebooks and pens, a tall glass/flask of water, hot coffee or tea, or a lit candle may help you feel more at ease and ready to face the studying.
Figuring Out What Works For You
Everyone has different ways of studying; what works for one person may not have the same effects on the other. If you used to study in different places other than home, think about what those environments did to help you succeed. If you typically studied in a library or coffee shop, consider listening to soft tunes or classical music, and brew yourself a warm cup of coffee or tea. If you preferred areas with ambiance movement before, consider turning on lyric-less music or ambiance noises. If you preferred to study in groups, think about starting a scheduled online-study session with others, regularly checking in with them for encouragement and progress updates.
Keep Yourself Accountable With Others
Setting up a zoom study-session is easier said than done, but hear me out. Having people keeping you accountable during assignments and studying together can bring motivation and stability to sessions, even if it’s a bit different than studying together physically at the same table or corner in a library. Consider downloading a study-timer app like Focus Keeper, which uses the Pomodoro technique to study in 25-minute intervals at a time, with 5-minute breaks in between. During the break, you can catch up and chat about other things, when the time is up, you can go back to working on whatever you had been, or start another subject. Even if you choose not to have a study session with them, you can always contact friends and fellow students for notes and questions; or to check in with them.
