Five Tips for the Final Stretch

The semester is quickly approaching its end. Unfortunately, as much as students wish the work load was lighter, of course it is just getting heavier! Between all the essays, exams and preparation for finals I cannot deny that I feel just a bit overwhelmed.

Every student has their moments of procrastination and especially with Thanksgiving so soon, it is easy to find yourself distracted. I must admit I have been making my fair share of procrastination mistakes just as much as the next student. With that being said, I thought this would be a good opportunity to give some of my tips on procrastination and helping a student do their best in this final stretch of the semester (the hardest time to do so)!

1. Keep a calendar
I was not particularly a calendar person in high school, but I  decided to keep one on my dorm desk with all due dates and activities. Calendars work as a great reminders of what you have to do and showing when your busy weeks are. Therefore, you can plan homework time accordingly. You don’t even need take the time to buy one; if Microsoft Word is accessible to you, just print out the template like I did!

2. Don’t let assignments build up
This sounds obvious, but you would be surprised to see how easy it is to lose track of all your work. My one friend who attends a college back in New Jersey is always pushing himself about at least starting an essay or project the day it is assigned. By just writing one paragraph, composing a thesis, or starting a few slides for that powerpoint presentation, you’ll be thankful you did that tiny bit when you go to finish the project up.

3. Always keep the syllabus in mind!
In most college courses, if not all, a professor will hand out a syllabus at the start of the semester. A syllabus generally includes the course outline. The course outline has when assignments are due, when exams are etc. and most professors try to stick to their syllabi! The most truthful and common example of the purpose of a syllabus is that professors do not and will not constantly remind you when the next test, therefore you have to pay attention to the syllabus and prepare on your own.

4. Set aside relaxation time.
This might seem almost IMPOSSIBLE. However, I’ve realized unless you’re willing to allow yourself to have a 15 minute cat nap during the day or a relaxation time before bed time, it is impossible to complete any tasks efficiently. As tempting as it may be to push yourself through the day with 3 cups of coffee, nothing is more rejuvenating than natural rest.

5. Find your place
 I honestly believe this is one the best tips I can give to a fellow student. One of the most important parts of studying or completing work is finding the physical place where you will be the most successful and productive. This could be almost anywhere! Whether it’s the library, a dorm lounge, your desk or in an academic building on campus, it is all about the balance between comfort and motivation. I touched upon this topic in one of my previous blogs, when I mentioned the variety of campus spots the U has to offer.

 If you’re a fellow student reading this, I hope you take some of these tips into consideration! They might seem obvious, but all to often during this busy time, we tend to forget the little things. Stay focused and have a great rest of the week!

Catherine E. Bombard

Hi! My name's Catherine, but you can call me Catie and I'm a sophomore from Wayne, NJ here at the University of Scranton. I'm an English major, Communication minor hoping to have a career in publishing one day. I'm a member and the publicist of Octaves, an a cappella group on campus, along with being a writer and editor for The Aquinas, the student newspaper. Thanks for checking out the student blogs and I hope you enjoy hearing about my "Scranton Experience"! :)

One thought on “Five Tips for the Final Stretch

  1. this is best blog for all . 60 years ago I did this without being told,but I didn’t have the fortune to being living on a campus. I had to drive 40 minutes every day to the campus.

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