The Eagle staff gives tips on a successful finals week

With finals right around the corner, the Eagle staff shared some plans and ideas that can help keep the stress to a minimum while you attempt to function at your highest.

Landrie Anderson

As finals approach, stress can start to build for many students balancing exams, projects and deadlines all at once. One of the best ways I handle that pressure is by staying organized and creating a plan before the busiest week begins. Breaking study time into smaller sessions and focusing on one subject at a time can make everything feel more manageable. Even simple habits like getting extra sleep, eating regular meals, and taking short breaks when overwhelmed help me improve focus and lower stress.

Finals can feel overwhelming, but it is important to remember they do not define a student’s worth or future. Everyone handles academic pressure differently, and comparing progress to others often creates more anxiety. Reaching out to professors, classmates, friends, or family can make a big difference during stressful times. With preparation, balance, and support, finals week can become something to work through rather than something to fear.

Wyatt Boyle

I’ve been taking a light course load, so I feel I’m not qualified to speak on this topic, but I think it’s good to keep in mind that it’s not the end of the world if you don’t succeed in a class. You can always retake it for a better grade, and there’s a little bit more to life than placing well in school. The sun will keep shining even if you fail a test.

Molli Hepworth

Happy finals season to those who celebrate!  Stress for me, caused by finals, is inevitable. Here are a few ways that help me stay sane at the end of the semester: I like to physically write down the finals and the dates the project/exam is due, and then I work on/study whichever is coming up soonest. I also take a 10-minute break every hour to give my brain time to reset. Every year, I like to plan something to do after my last final is complete to give myself something to look forward to.  What I’m using to get through finals this semester is that I am graduating this spring!

Jen Cefalo

Finals are always a stressful time for me. I have had to try a lot of different things to find what works best for me. One of the biggest things that I deal with is burnout from all the studying before each test. The best way I have found to combat this is study-hopping. The way it works for me is I will start in one place like a coffee shop or cafe, get a coffee or treat and study for two hours. After that time is up, I leave for the next place.

I typically like to walk from place to place as a reset and a break. At my next stop, typically a campus building other than the library, I will stay for an hour and a half. After the second stop, it’s time for a longer study break. For this break I will typically go to an on campus activity and eat lunch. The library generally has activities; this year, it is called De-stress Fest. After that, I will go to two other campus buildings for an hour and a half each. Four study sessions a day is about all I can handle, so I find this method the best for balancing school life during finals.

Trent Handy

The very first thing you need is any and all notes you wrote throughout the class. If you didn’t write any. I hope you remembered everything. The point of school is for an education, not a grade. You’re gonna take your notes and go over them until you can memorize them. Then you’re gonna try to rewrite your notes. And everything you forgot, you’re gonna re-read until you think you’re ready to re-write. Once you’re done. Please do not do this the night before your final. You’re going to do this a fortnight before or even longer if needed. This technique is called Blurting. I’ve used this method for multiple school years, and it’s one of my favorites.

The night before you’re gonna read all your notes, keep them in mind and sleep on them. Something else to keep in mind is to get plenty of sleep before the exam. Make sure to eat a well-balanced breakfast in the morning and eat well that day. In the moment of the test, you should be confident; if not, get confident. Confidence is key to trust; it will take you far. Congratulations if you pass; if not, see if you can compromise with your professor/teacher and retake your test.  Life isn’t always a cake walk, and you might find yourself failing a class. The best advice I can give is to try again and retake the class. It’s a waste of time and energy to be upset; don’t let anyone give you a hard time about it. Pass or fail, go celebrate, think of it as rejuvenation if you fail and as a reward if you succeed.