By Saul Cruz

Reporter

With midterm season nearing an end, breaks and finals are on the horizon. Immediately following midterms, most students feel worn-out and slow down on studying and take time to relax.

While relaxation is important, it is also important to capitalize on the free time. In the remaining weeks of the semester students are expected to have finals and all projects due in a short time.

The proximity of deadlines often causes anxiety in students, as they feel overwhelmed with sheer volume of work needing to be addressed.

The key to avoiding this overwhelming feeling is evenly distributing your workload. Study tips are plentiful, and a quick Google search will produce a wide range of options. Finding a system that works for you and your needs is important, but before this can happen dedication is required first.

It can at times be repetitive but beside the systems, tricks, and organization tips, finding your motivation can propel you far with any study system. In finding your motivation a student can perform great things, because they have a reason for doing it. Having this basis is what makes some students more academically focused and helps relieve the effects of burn-out.

In times when students are feeling this burn-out it is important to turn to our peers to understand that we are not alone. Fellow students may have the solution to the very problems we are facing.

Samantha Vasquez, a graduate student working toward her master’s in educational counseling, says she has gained many tips over her college career.

“Always remember to not get frustrated with yourself, deep breaths, and remind yourself that this is an investment not a burden,” said Vasquez.

Another tip to understand as this year is beginning to wind down is the idea of unity. Many students echo this unity in their tips for other students.

Ignacio Contreras, a junior in the Business Administration program, believes you should “make friends in class that are willing to have review sessions.”

Finding a dedicated group of friends or classmates allows for you to stay focused on schoolwork. This has been found to be effective especially as one gets into their upper-division major classes.

Seeing the same people in most of your classes gives you more opportunity to get to know your peers, and creating those connections makes it easier to ask for help when you need it.

There are also a few things that we have come to accept as study aids. Simply finding the right spot to work is all it can take.

Judy Anne Caranne, senior political science major, stated when asked what helps her study, “Caffeine. Find a few places where you know you’ll be able to focus. Figure out the time of day when you’re most awake and alert. Also, more caffeine.”

While caffeine isn’t always the answer it can be a quick pick me up. Caranne makes a great point about finding your own unique study space.

Finding your own unique location and routine for studying makes it easier to take in the material and to stay focused while studying.