Written by Victoria Tran
Ever feel like finals week sneaks up on you? Maybe you’ve caught yourself procrastinating with, “I’ll start tomorrow,” only to realize tomorrow is already too late. Or maybe you’re trying to recover from a low midterm grade, hoping finals will save the day. Sound familiar?
We’ve all been there, staying up too late cramming, losing focus during unproductive study sessions, or burning out halfway through the week. It’s exhausting, but it doesn’t have to be this way. This guide is for those of us who want to get through finals without the stress spiraling out of control. It’s not revolutionary advice, it’s simply the basics. But sometimes, sticking to the basics is exactly what we need to finally get it together.
This article covers three key aspects: daily habits, environment setup, and study planning.
Daily Habits to Build Before It’s Too Late
The Most Important Thing: Sleep
If you’re not getting 7–9 hours of solid sleep every night, you’re setting yourself up to fail. Sleep isn’t just important, it’s the difference between sinking and swimming during finals week. You might think pulling all-nighters will give you more time to study, but the harsh truth is that no sleep means no focus, no retention, and no energy. Your brain needs rest to process and store the information you’re cramming into it.
If you ignore this and try to run on caffeine and willpower alone, everything else — your study plan, your productivity, even your performance on the exam — will collapse. Sleep at the same time every night, no excuses. This is a non-negotiable because, without it, you’re sabotaging yourself before you even start.
Get Your Mind in the Game: Exercise
For those who feel restless, find it difficult to sit for hours, get fidgety, or even struggle with remembering materials, especially if you have ADHD, moving your body can make a huge difference.
It doesn’t have to be intense, just 15–20 minutes of activity before you sit down to study can help you burn off excess energy and make it easier to concentrate.
Protein > Carbs
Protein keeps you full longer and stabilizes your energy. Meal prep for the week with protein-rich foods like chicken, steak, eggs, fish, tofu, or beans. If you’re eating out, add a side of protein. Keep easy-to-grab options like protein bars, Greek yogurt, protein shakes, or nuts on hand for when you need a quick snack.
Avoid binging on chips and sweets, they’ll only leave you feeling sluggish, unfocused, bloated, and hungry after an hour. Fuel your body the right way.
Environment Setup
Make a Study Playlist
Find what helps you focus and makes studying feel less dull. For example, I don’t like lo-fi beats; it’s boring and slow but I found that Latin deep house is more upbeat and helps me focus better. So, find what works for you. It makes longer study sessions more enjoyable.
Have Two Study Spots
– An Isolated Spot: For deep focus.
– A Spot with Social Atmosphere: A shared area with light background noise.
Avoid studying in your bedroom. It blurs the line between work and relaxation, which makes it harder to focus or get quality sleep later.
Making a Study Plan That Works
1. Start With Your Exam Dates: Knowing what’s coming up helps you prioritize and avoid surprises.
2. Plan Backwards: Work from your exam dates to allocate study time. Break down how many days you have left and what needs to be covered.
3. Be Specific: Don’t just write “study chemistry.” Write something like “memorize subatomic particles and practice drawing Bohr models,” or “solve limiting reagent and percent yield problems.”
4. Set Reminders: Set alerts, alarms, and notifications for your study sessions. Don’t let the day slip away.