Finals week brings out the ugly in some people. I know I tend to get grumpy and eat poorly, so I'm no better, but after talking to my college 101 class, here are my top 5 tips for getting through finals week and still having people that will miss you over vacation.
1. Finals Week is not a competition. If I say "I got two hours of sleep last night" the appropriate response is something like "I'm sorry, take a nap!" or "I didn't get much sleep either, we should skip How I Met your Mother tonight!" The appropriate response is not "At least you got two hours! I only got one!" or, even worse, "I wish I got sleep last night!" There is no competition here. Everyone's major has different requirements, we all have different commitments, and there is no winning in finals. There just is not. So if you feel yourself wanting to prove how much harder you have it, how much more tired you are, or how much longer you've gone without eating, go write in your diary.
2. It's even easier to not make it a competition if you don't complain. There is not one person in your university who doesn't have finals week when you have finals week. So whining on facebook or shrieking about how you JUST CAN'T is not going to win you any sympathy points. Everyone is just too damn busy dealing with their own finals week to feel bad for you about yours.
This is not to say you can't share your concerns with your friends, and celebrate your successes. There's a big difference between "I'm so tired, I'm so hungry, wahhh" and "I'm worried about my American Lit test because I haven't memorized all the Antebellum authors."
3. It is even easier not to complain when you take care of yourself! I know that eating poorly is my vice, so I make a point to get enough sleep and take vitamins. I don't function without sleep, so I make sure I get enough. If you're someone that can handle an all nighter and not be cranky the next day, more power to you! But if you also know you need to have your veggies, then make sure you get them. Just know your limits, and value your body enough to not push them. Yes, it is harder this week compared to most days, but we are all adults. In my case, complaining I didn't get enough sleep really translates to "I'm not grown up enough to take care of myself".
4. Keep perspective. No matter how well you do, you will be done with finals by the end of the week. You will forget what grade you get, or which questions you missed, or what you wrote in your essay. It's much harder to forget if someone was rude to you. Especially in a small college like mine, people are always around, and always watching. If you give the barista attitude, when interviews come for RAs, Orientation Leaders, or anything else on campus-- I guarantee she either will be a part of the process, or will know someone that is. And even if you don't remember why you were so cranky that day, she'll remember that you were, and be less inclined to give you the position. Finals week only has to last 4 days, if you don't do anything that will affect your reputation the following semesters.
5. Be kind. All these rules? We break them. We get irritated with each other, we're extra sensitive, and it's easy to snap at people when you don't mean to. Do your best to remember that everyone could use a little slack right now, and assume that they will feel better tomorrow. I think this is the one thing I don't appreciate enough in my new group of friends; when I'm feeling bitchy and tired, they just laugh at me. There are no grudges, just understanding.
I'm off to study some more. In only 4 days, I'll be home for Christmas!
