There is no avoiding it. Finals week is an inevitable and important part of being a college student. Many fear this dreaded week, but it is all about preparation. Studying for finals develops skills which will help throughout your education. It instills discipline, perseverance, and can be good practice for any additional entrance exams you might need to take in the future (such as the MCAT). I would like to share with you a few ways to improve your study habits which should allow you to be better prepared for finals and thus, hopefully alleviate some of the inevitable stress.
A common mistake made is studying in too large of a chunk of time. One key thing I make sure to do when studying is to give my brain a "break." Depending on how much material I need to cover, I might study ten pages of notes in-depth and then take a break for ten minutes. At the end of my study session, I may have collectively studied for three hours, but this will likely be more effectively than someone who studied for five hours without breaks.
Another helpful tip is to designate a study spot for yourself. Everyone has a preference to how and where they like to study, but for me, going to the library is where I do best. I am away from where I live and deliberately going for the purpose of studying, which helps me to focus. I admit that sometimes I don’t feel like getting up and going to the library just to study, but it works for me. Give it a try and see if it improves your mental focus.
My final tip is try not to make the final out to be that big a deal. A lot of people mentally inflate the final's importance. It can be intimidating to find out that 25% of your grade is based on this one item. I suggest you take the time to read the syllabus and figure out what you need on the final to still earn the grade you want (some professors will even have a grade calculator made for you). I like to use the Ben Eggleston grade calculator for classes where the professor doesn’t already have a grade calculator available. This will help immensely in estimating what you should strive for on the final exam.
In conclusion, the best way to relieve stress associated with finals week is to be prepared as prepared as possible. I never feel nervous about a test I know I studied well for. My best advice is to make sure you are doing well throughout the semester, so you don’t have to reply on a phenomenal final exam score to pass or get that A. Make sure you give yourself enough breaks while studying, and give going to the library or another quiet place to study a chance. And remember, on the other end of that final exam week is - winter/summer break where you will hopefully have some time to relax and recuperate before your next semester! Good luck!