Finals Survival Guide

With finals season already upon us we wanted to put a list together of our top 10 tips and tricks for surviving the week! It’s a tough week and the pressure of the school year seems to all come down to these last  couple of days, but we hope this list will bring you some peace of mind and good fortune..  

1. Playlist! We recommend to get in the study mindset with the proper playlists for you! We’ve learned that each person, and even subject requires a different study tune. Rach tends to lean towards an EDM style soundtrack while Kenn sticks with the classical mozart or piano ballad.
2. 50:10 Rule. If you plan to study for long hours on the same subject, we recommend taking a break after 50 minutes of potent studies with a 10 minute “reward” break  for social media or internet surfing.
3. Location. Location. Location. This is imperative if you want to see productivity from your study sesh. The pictures we took are at the new Austin Public Library. It was our first time visiting the downtown library and there  were so many great study spots outdoors and inside. If you need to switch up your location and are in Austin we give this spot a definite 10 outta 10!
4. Snack time is a necessity! It is important to stay fueled during long hours of studying to stay awake and focused. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and our all time favorite Skinny Pop if you need something to hold you over before your next meal. Our brains feed off carbs, therefore this is not the week to cut these macros.
5. “Sleep is for the weak” is probably the most repeated saying on campus. We have to admit, we definitely don’t get our full seven hours,  but try and get as much as you can. If you are feeling tired during the day a 20-30 minute power nap might even do the trick to keep you awake before bedtime!
6. Schedule your time. If you are feeling overwhelmed by all the studying you have left or presentations you need to prepare for, schedule your time on a sticky note and keep it close to you at all times. This will help to make your to-do list much more manageable and who doesn’t love crossing off a completed item?
7. Stay active! Leave at least 20 minutes of your day to get in a quick workout. Even if that means bringing your notes to the gym with you while you’re on the treadmill (yes... this is a regular occurrence for us) it never hurts to get your blood pumping. If we are feeling extra stressed we will do a quick ab circuit in our living room before dinner or cut time off our normal cardio routine for the day!
8. Study with a friend. Sometimes sitting in your room by yourself can be a little difficult when it seems everyone else is going out for the night. Grab a friend who you know needs to study too and make a study date out of it! Go to a fun coffee shop or schedule a study room and study the night away.
9. DND. Both of us have apple watches and the endless vibrations from group texts, snapchats, and facebook notifications can be distracting.. Put your phone/watch on do not disturb and check it during your 10 minute break. You will be so much more productive and still stay up to date on anything that is going on!
10. Most importantly try not to stress too much. You have made it this far, what has one more week of school got on you? In the end, your life isn’t going to come down to the A or the A- that you make on your finance final, or any final for that matter. What matters is the amount of effort you put into your studying and knowing that you tried your best and did all that you can do. It may seem cheesy, but it is true. Don’t pull out your hair over these exams, but be prepared and confident. Good luck and we wish you all the absolute best!

Cheers, Kenn and Rach