May 5, 1997

Tips to help avoid finals stress

By Jennie Costanza

xams, papers and not enough time. For many students finals mean stress, but it does not have to be as chaotic this semester as those in the past.

The number one step is to not plunge into studying but to stop and plan what needs to be done.

"So often students bounce from one course to the other and a lot of studying or learning is not going on ... it's stressing," said Pat Feldman, associate director of the Learning Enhancement Center.

Instead, list everything that needs to be done and designate periods of time to finish those tasks.

"Set times to get things done and reward yourself at the end," Charles Davis, assistant journalism professor, said.

In preparing for finals, Feldman warned that reading does not always work because it is a short-term memory operation. She suggested finding another approach, such as repeating information out loud, writing it down, quizzing others or studying in a group.

For other students, large amounts of information can heighten stress and be intimidating.

"I break things down and put them on note cards to study," said Aileen Diaz, junior public relations and psychology double major.

When the stress really kicks in there are a few things that should not be overlooked. Take a break when nothing else can be handled. Five minutes of walking around can make it easier to concentrate. If time permits, at least 30 minutes of exercise can help reduce stress, which in turn makes study time more beneficial.

Getting seven to eight hours or a minimum of four hours of sleep a night helps one think and take tests better.

"If you get too tired you can't absorb information, and you can't remember what you already absorbed," Feldman said. "This promotes more anxiety."

Feldman said to help ease the stress, students should eat. Nutrition has a lot to do with how alert a person feels, how much he or she can effectively study and how clearly he or she thinks during an exam. Fruit, vegetables and cheese and crackers are healthy alternatives to junk food.

For advice, stop by the Learning Enhancement Center in Clements Hall between 9 a.m. and 5 pm. Limited tutoring is available through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more help, call 768-3648.

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