As the reality of finals week — the most dreaded time of every semester — approaches, students all around the campus start to feel the stress piling up with final projects, exams and presentations. Having been through this a few times, I’ve figured out what it takes to survive this hellish period and end the semester on a high note. Here are my tips.
1. Plan ahead
Depending on the classes you take, you may have in-class exams, papers, take-home exams or even all three like I do. Regardless, the first thing that needs to be done is to plan ahead. What are the due dates for everything? What will take the most time? Is there anything you can get knocked out of your way now? When are you going to study for which exam? Going into finals with somewhat of a plan goes a long way when minimizing stress for this week.2. Sleep
While we might be relying heavily on caffeine, sleep is the unsung hero in our fight against finals. Sure, an all-nighter occasionally becomes unavoidable, but if it’s a recurring habit, your brain won’t retain the information you’re cramming. The following day might turn into a disaster — silly mistakes in exams or, believe it or not, nodding off right in the middle of one. It might sound dramatic, but I’ve seen it happen before.3. Stake out your favorite study spot
At this point of the semester, everyone knows where they study best. So if you realize you always end up spending more time chatting with your friends on the first floor of Hesburgh Library and brainstorming conspiracy theories at Duncan Student Center than hitting the books, it’s time for a change this week. Also, the prime spots will be in high demand, so arriving early is key. But remember, it’s crucial to be considerate — don’t hog tables by leaving your stuff unattended while you disappear for an hour-long lunch at the dining hall.4. Fuel up.
Eating well and drinking enough water are some of the most important components of doing well in finals week. Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of working so hard that you neglect eating and drinking. Bring snacks from your room, spend the rest of your flex points and meal swipes and make good use of all the study break events around campus. Your body and mind will thank you for it.5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Whether you are struggling with a thesis or completely confused about that last physics lecture, don’t suffer in silence. Professors and TAs usually add some extra office hours around finals, and they are more than willing to help. Never been to office hours, and you are shy to go there for the first time during finals week? Too nervous to go to the professor? Talking with a classmate can be super helpful when you’re stuck. However, don’t ever feel like because you’ve never been to this professor’s office hours, you shouldn’t show up. Most of the time, they want to see us do well, and they will be immensely happy to help you better understand their class.6. Don’t compare yourself to others
Studying with friends, roommates and others can be an effective way to stay motivated. However, don’t compare yourself to other people. Even if you are taking similar exams, or taking an exam the same day, do not let how chill they seem or how focused they are affect your own studying. This is a time when everyone, including the Mendoza kids with their coloring books, is struggling, so don’t feel guilty or self-conscious if you don’t have it all together this week, no one does.As we go through this final stretch, remember that very soon these stressful times will be over. Stay strong, stay healthy, and as always Go Irish, beat finals!
Lara is a member of the class of 2026 from Taubaté, Brazil with majors in economics and Chinese. When she is not complaining about the weather, you can find her studying in a random room of O'Shaughnessy with her friends or spending all her flex points in Garbanzo. You can contact Lara by email at lvictor@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
