There are many things in life that cause stress: heartbreaks, watching your favorite team lose and finals week. Let’s just say finals week doesn’t actually come last on that list.

As a Washington and Lee University student, I have found some study methods that not only ease my anxiety when it comes to preparing for finals, but have been successful for me personally. But don’t just take my word for it. Some of the strategies I use have been supported by studies. Here are five tips:

1. Make your lists and check them twice

One of the most important things that I do to prepare for finals week is write out a list of everything that I have to do. It can be as simple as revisiting class materials to going to office hours to doing practice questions. I dedicate time to organizing this list and often do it by thinking of each of my classes  one by one and what I have to do for each. Making these lists can give you visible reminders of what you have to do.

A senior doctoral student at Carleton University, Shamarukh Chowdhury, collected data from 300 undergraduates and found that students who used to-do lists more tended to procrastinate less. She suggested that this was due to conscientiousness, including not being impulsive and staying self-disciplined. Personally, I am more productive once I make a list, and there is no better feeling than the satisfaction of crossing off every task one by one.

2. Study while exercising

This is an underrated but extremely effective combo. We know that exercise alone has so many physical and psychological benefits, including increased energy, improved cognitive function, and reduced tension and stress. When I’m at the gym, there’s a high chance you’ll see me typing away on my iPad or doing Quizlet flashcards while on the leg press machine. This is an effective study strategy for me because I can ensure that I am staying physically healthy while being academically productive.

But it’s more than that. After combining my gym time with completing assignments and studying, I noticed that I was able to work much faster and produce better work than usual.

It wasn’t until one of my Cognitive and Behavioral Science classes this term that I realized that there was actually research to back up this method. In 2019, Hannah Zabriskie conducted a study on the effectiveness of combining learning and exercising. She found out that working out while learning helped people remember more vocabulary words two days later compared to learning while relaxing. On average, people who exercised and studied at the same time remembered about 28 words, while those who studied in a relaxed state remembered about 21 words. Combining these activities may take some adjustment, but it’s a win-win for both your body and mind.

3. Get study buddies

Spending the entire term with students who share similar experiences automatically creates a special kind of bond. I have realized that studying in groups before finals is helpful. Someone else can pick up on something you missed or didn’t understand in class and vice versa. You’re also never “too good” to do group studies. Even if you know more than others, taking your time to explain concepts to them helps you learn the application of class content. Not to mention, the camaraderie can keep you motivated and make studying feel less isolating.

4. Stick study material around your room

One thing that I have done when it comes to finals week is printing out or writing out information from my classes and sticking it around areas that I am often in. I sometimes have diagrams, quotes or equations taped onto my blinds, bedroom door and even the bathroom. Visibly seeing the content from my classes in daily settings helps me remember content better during exams. Sometimes, I can even close my eyes and try to remember what the equation on my door was, and it works. This constant exposure reinforces memory and helps you retain the information passively.

5. Lock in, but don’t be locked in – take a break

I think that it is important to balance your school work and other activities you like, even during finals week. Yes, we all have to study. I don’t intend to undermine the amount of work you have to do, but studying all day without taking at least 30 minutes a day for yourself is not necessarily healthy. Engaging in activities that you like gives you a quick break from the reality of finals. It also improves your mental health, which not only contributes to your overall wellness but also ultimately increases your ability to perform during finals week. Your productivity is tied to your mental clarity, so don’t underestimate the value of rest and recreation.