Ah yes. It is that time of year, again. The flowers are blooming and the days are getting longer. You can smell that spring is in the air. If you are a college student though, you are most likely smelling the burning of your computer or that same musty stench in the library, seeing as you have been inside all day.
That is right. It is the last two weeks of the semester, where all of our assignments, projects and finals come to rear their ugly heads. But fear not, there are ways to cope with all of this. Here are things that I have found most effective in my short time here at Shippensburg University:
The first thing I do is lay out when various assignments, projects and finals are either due, or when they are scheduled to be taken. I treat my studying and work like a trauma center.
Designate the things that need to be done immediately, and get those out of the way. Things that are due at the end of the week can be taken care of after you have finished the tasks at hand.
While everything may seem equally important, try making a chart ranking these various things. Just do not forget to take breaks, because you will get burned out. Quick.
The second thing I do is limit or cut off social media and gaming networks. No matter what you say, these things are distractions to you right now. No one is that good of a multi-tasker. SO GET RID OF THEM! Turn off your Facebook notifications, ignore Instagram and stop playing so much “Call of Duty.” Believe it or not, your friends are not going to miss you that much, because they are most likely going through the same things as you.
The third and most important piece to solving this stress puzzle, is simple. It may sound cliché, but you need to believe in yourself. Purge all of the negative thoughts in your mind and tell yourself you can do it.
I know last semester, I was almost to the point of losing it because I thought I had so much to do. If you are a freshmen, like me, the transition from high school to college can be difficult at times. Talk to a parent, a friend, a classmate or anyone who can help you. It helps to talk it out.
I would be more than willing to bet my next paycheck that these next two weeks will not be the worst of your life. Just follow these steps and know that you can get through finals week. Good luck!
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