Finals week is weird.
For some of us, our grades are determined long before this week. With papers written, exams taken, projects turned in and curves taken into account, finals week is an inconvenience keeping us from the summer.
But for the unfortunate many of us, our final exams can be the difference between a successful semester or filling that summer with online courses.
A near-sighted student stumbles into finals with a "blissfully simple" solution: all-nighters, cramming, caffeine and Adderall. While this might sound like an edgy and necessary evil, this regiment is probably causing more harm than good.
With the way I've treated finals in the past, I've definitely shaved a few weeks off my obsessive-compulsive life.
That being said, here is a functional list of things you should avoid in the few weeks leading up to and during finals.
1. All-nighters: Sleep is one of the most important tools for success. It may seem like a good idea to stay up for 48 hours before a final to review those chapters you "learned" during that spring break hangover. But information recall and long-term memory are reinforced by six to eight hours of sleep a night. The slacker who decides to become an "honors student" for a week might be disappointed in his or her results.
2. Fast food: In between study sessions, cramming and intense reviews, sometimes we forget the stuff that keeps us going: food. It may be the easy way out, but those 99-cent burritos at Taco Bell or the carne asada special at Los Favoritos could spell danger for a student on the edge. The last thing you need during a final is an uncontrollable trip to the bathroom. Drink lots of water and keep that system flushed out.
3. Parties and bars: It may sound like a no-brainer to avoid, but the week leading up to finals is an excellent opportunity to party. With no more classes and a week to spare before exams, it's only natural to gather and kill time the way ASU students always have. But it would be wise to avoid events where the intoxicated (possibly you) make poor decisions that lead to injury.
Do we see a trend here? If there's ever a time to avoid unhealthy things, it's now.
In this short running list, the last sweeping point is the most important.
4. Change: I'm definitely an advocate of change. It keeps our lives interesting and helps us become functional, progressive people. But during finals week, change is your enemy.
We are creatures of habit. Whether those habits are good or bad, consistency is the foundation to executing a successful series of exams. Finals week should be approached no differently than the rest of your year (with the exception of tips one through three).
Now is not a good time to start smoking, quit smoking, start working out, break up with your boyfriend, buy that badass new video game you've been wanting or pick up skateboarding.
It may sound like a passive way to approach life, but this list is truly an active course in succeeding. If only for a short while, employing a healthy and consistent lifestyle during finals week is crucial.
Drink water, get some rest and study your notes — you'll be fine.
Reach the columnist at mschan1@asu.edu or follow him at @MorganSukotto
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