THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, MAY 7, 2012
PAGE 5
STRESS
Students weigh in on how to avoid stress
AVALON COLE
acole@kansan.com
The stress of finals is finally here. This is the time students fill the libraries, zone out and focus on only one thing: studying. This crazy week is usually filled with stress and anxiety, but there are many ways to reduce the chaos and survive finals week.
Lauren Wooden, a sophomore from Overland Park, said that she creates a study schedule to reduce the stress of finals week. She said making designated study breaks and sticking to them helps calm her down.
"I make sure I start early enough for harder tests so I am not cramming at the last minute," Wooden said. "I also wake up earlier to study so I'm not up all night."
Nicole Davis, a professor in the department of French and Italian, said it is extremely important to get plenty of sleep before an exam and to choose study techniques that are specific to your needs.
"If a study task seems too big, break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks," Davis said. "If you pace yourself and build a sense of accomplishment, it is a lot less overwhelming."
Anna Pavelonis, a sophomore from Scottsdale, Ariz., said that she doesn't study
for more than a certain amount of time.
"If I study more than three hours straight, I won't retain what I am trying to learn," Pavelonis said. "I won't leave the library, but I will step outside for a few minutes or order food."
Pavelonis said that she also goes to the gym a lot to relieve stress, refresh her mind and keep her alert. She said it is important to stay active during finals week to avoid tensing up.
Brooks Foreman, a freshman from Kansas City, Kan., said that he prefers to study in a quiet room on the top floor of Anschutz Library. Foreman said that it's less stressful to be in a quiet room because there are not as many people sitting around you.
"It is more private, there's a wider working space, more plug-ins and I can write out numbers or formulas on the white boards." Foreman said. "I am less stressed out when I can rely on that larger space to work in."
There are many ways to reduce the stress of finals; you just need to find the technique that's right for you.
Edited by Taylor Lewis
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