7 Last-Minute Tips for Nailing Finals

It’s almost time for final exams.  Stress runs high, sleep runs short, and note cards are everywhere!  Here are some last-minute tips to help you through:

 

  1.  Take it one exam at a time.

If you have several exams to prep for, consider how much effort you need to give each one.  You will find that some classes / subjects come easier to you than others.  Or some final exams just don’t require as much of your energy to score well.  However, you will also find that some require as much attention as you can give them.  Make a plan for how much time you should be spending on each, then approach them one subject at a time, beginning with the exam that comes first.  Once you’re ready (or that exam is done), you can then move on to the next subject.

  1.  Find a partner.

If you work with another student to study for exams, and you can stay focused on the material, there can be a lot of benefit.  Talk about the material that confuses you, quiz each other, or better yet, find someone who doesn’t know the material and teach it to him/her.  If you can explain, in your own words, what the material is about so that someone who hasn’t had the class can understand it, you’re in good shape.

  1.  Sleep.

You must.  Sleep is necessary for long-term memory formation and accurate recall.  Not getting enough sleep will make it harder to focus on what you’re studying, take longer to get the material into memory, and mean that the information will be less accurate when you recall it from memory later.  On top of that, it will increase your stress level, your frustration level, and your cravings for high-sugar / high-carb / high-fat foods.

  1.  Take breaks.

Yes, I said it.  You cannot study non-stop, even for final exams.  After about an hour, your attention starts to wander and you won’t retain much of the information you’re trying to study anyway.  Take a break, get up, move around, check out what’s going on online, have a snack, and then go back to it.  Set a timer to remind you if necessary.

  1.  Turn off distractions.

That being said, when it’s study time, it’s study time.  Turn off the phone, shut down the browser windows with social media sites that call your attention, turn off the TV, and get rid of anything that distracts you.  Use an app to lock down the phone for a specified period of time, or a program that restricts the websites you visit on your computer during certain time frames if you need the extra help.  Also, know yourself … if music or some type of background noise actually helps you focus better, you should leave those on; however, if it’s distracting – get rid of it!

  1.  Get rid of worry.

Worry is not your friend.  Most of us know that worrying by itself will not change the outcome of a test or class grade.  Worrying about which questions will be on the exam or what material to spend the most time on will not change the content of the exam.  But we still do it – mostly because it feels like we have some control over the situation, when really, we don’t.  So use the energy you would’ve spent on worry to focus on things that will improve your outcomes – ask your instructor about what material to focus on or which specific topics will be on the exam.  Pay attention and when you notice yourself beginning to worry or get stressed about something, take a step back and ask:  “Is there anything I can actually do about that?” (Like asking for more information, spending some more time studying, asking for help from a tutor) – if there’s nothing your can do, set it aside.  Remind yourself that worry only uses up time & energy better spent actually studying.  If there is something you can do, do it.  In the end, worry and stress will only interfere with your ability to understand and retain information.

  1.  Take care of yourself.

It is important to sleep, take breaks, and tell worry to take a hike.  But taking care of yourself extends to other areas as well.  Eat well – be sure you’re including enough healthy protein and veggies, while limiting the amount of processed sugars and bad fats; and be sure to include healthy fats like fish, olive oil, avocado, and others.  Stay active and get some exercise.  It can be hard to convince yourself to exercise when you’re tired and stressed from school and / or work, especially if you have so much more to do.  But it’s important and in the long run will improve your mood, increase circulation (including to your brain, which will improve overall cognitive performance), and help you feel better physically.  It’s worth it.

 

#StressLessWeek

 

Why Do We Continue to Host National Depression Screening Day Every Year?

Each year, Ohio State Lima Counseling Services hosts National Depression Screening Day on our campus.  2015 will mark the 7th year!

Some years we have screened as few as 12 students.  Some years, as many as 280!  Regardless of the number of students screened, we feel strongly about continuing the tradition every year.  Why?

Many college students struggle, some with day-to-day stresses and difficulties, others with mental illness, and still others with major life changes or traumatic events.  National Depression Screening Day is one avenue for OSU Lima students to know that help is available and where to find it.  Once students show up to NDSD, they know where the Counseling Services office is if they need it (now or in the future); and hopefully see that it’s a welcoming environment (and not at all scary).

When students participate in NDSD, they have the choice to complete the checklist in anyway they wish.  Sometimes this checklist form is an easier way to communicate that things are not going well.  Sometimes we don’t even realize how much we are struggling until we’re asked these specific questions.  The checklist often informs people that maybe some help would be good.

But one of the largest reasons we do NDSD is to raise awareness of mental health and to reduce the stigma around seeking help.  We typically have over 200 students participate in this event each fall.  That many people gathered in the lobby of Galvin Hall makes a commotion – and we hope that every student on campus sees this and realizes that coming to Counseling Services just isn’t that big of a deal.  We hope that it helps to dispel the myth that therapy is only for people who are “crazy.”  We hope that students learn a little bit more about maintaining their own mental health and that it’s ok to ask for help.  We pass out lots of information to students who come through NDSD screenings and we hope that some of that informs their own decisions about attending to their mental health and being aware of how their friends and family may be feeling.

If National Depression Screening Day on the Ohio State Lima campus

  • helps one student ask for help who might not have done so on his/her own, or
  • intervenes in one student’s thoughts of harming him/herself, or
  • causes one student to reconsider what it means for him/her or others to come to therapy, or
  • gives one student the information or resources needed to help a friend who is struggling or in crisis …

then we have served our purpose.

For all these reasons, we feel passionately about continuing to host this event each and every year on this campus.  We hope to see you this year!

 

National Depression Screening Day 2015

Thursday, Oct 8

10:00-2:00

Galvin 107

 

 

Make This Your Best Year Yet!

MAKE THIS YOUR BEST YEAR YET!

Whether this is your first year on campus, or you’re nearly finished, get the semester started – and keep it going – on the right foot, with good academic & personal habits, to make this your best year yet.  Here are some helpful tips!  (Want more?  Check out Study-Hack.com)

 College Success Basics:

As with most things in life, finding your way in college means finding strategies that work for you.  Being a successful student is about much more than just your IQ score.  In fact, intelligence only accounts for a small percentage of college success.  Below you’ll find some recommendations to consider, but know that you may have to experiment with strategies that fit you.  There is no right or wrong way to study, manage your time, or take an exam, as long as the end result leaves you feeling healthy and fulfilled.

Blog Posts_College Success_Study Smart Tips

Know what’s expected

It’s important to be clear about what your instructors expect from you.  First thing’s first:  read the syllabus – from beginning to end.  It’s full of important information about the class.  You should find the text and what you should be reading when; the assignments and projects you’ll be completing; the exams you’ll be taking; and more.  If you’re unclear on any of it, ask your instructor for more details or clarification.  Still not sure?  Ask more questions.

How much time should you expect to spend outside of school on homework?  Well, the State of Ohio says you should expect to spend about 2 hours outside of class for each hour you spend in class.  So if your class meets for a total of 3 hours per week, you should be spending 6 hours per week at home on that material.  This includes reading, studying, preparing projects and papers, completing homework, etc.  But this is just a guide.  Everyone is different.  We each have strengths and weaknesses.  If you’re very strong in a subject, you may not need as much time for that class.  However, if you’re not so strong, you may need more time.  And there will be weeks where you don’t have the full amount of time in the required work, and other weeks where there will be more.

And be sure to check your email and any other method of communication your instructors have said they will use (such as Carmen).  Instructors will almost always use your OSU email to send you information, or post it in Carmen.  You should get in the habit of checking both regularly.  If you’d rather not have several email addresses to check, you can have your OSU email forwarded to another account.

Manage your time effectively

You have a lot to do.  Going to class, keeping up with the reading and homework, keeping track of papers & projects, as well as any extracurricular activities, clubs, or groups.  If you work, have children, or other commitments in addition to school, managing your time becomes even more challenging.  Here are some ideas:

  • Find a planner or calendar that fits your lifestyle.  If you’re always online, maybe an app is your best bet.  If you prefer low-tech, maybe a paper calendar works better.  Either way, the system will only work if you use it and remember to check it regularly (at least once a day).
  • Use reminders.  Set an alarm on your phone, use an app, send yourself an email, or put up a sticky note.  Whatever method you use, reminders can be a really handy way to keep up with deadlines and the little details that sometimes slip our minds.
  • Map out your week.  Draw out a visual plan for your typical week, with a column for each day and the times down the left side.  Now mark off the times you know you’ll be in class, at work, or any other consistent activity on your schedule.  Add in time that you’ll do homework or study, but be specific.  When will you do math homework?  When will you study for biology?  And of course, leave some time open for fun!!
  • Create an assignments spreadsheet.  Once great way to do this is in Excel, where you can make a column for the assignment name, due date, class, and any other information to keep track of.  Put in all the important dates (big & small) for all of your classes.  You can now sort all of them based on class name, due date, or otherwise.  This can be really handy when you’re balancing several demanding courses.  Also consider including your own pre-due dates.  For example, if you have a paper due in 4 weeks, you may enter your own assignment on the list, giving yourself a due date for the rough draft in 2 weeks, then the final paper in 3 weeks and a deadline to take it to the Writing Center for review with a tutor.

 Take care of yourself

It is so important that you take the time to take care of yourself during college.  It’s easy to put off going to the gym or taking the time to cook a healthy meal when you have a pile of homework waiting for you.  It can be tempting to take the quick & easy fast food dinner & just get to work; or to stay up just a little later to get in some more study time before the exam.  But those strategies often don’t pay off in the end.  Here are the basics:

  • Get enough sleep.  During early adulthood we still need 7-9 hours of sleep per night.  Yes, every night.  If you’re not getting enough sleep on a regular basis, you will notice a whole host of problems.  Sleep deprivation can reduce frustration tolerance, attention, concentration, and emotional stability.  It also causes us to crave foods that are high in carbs and sugars – not good if you’re trying to avoid the ‘freshman 15.’
  • Exercise.  Yes, you’ve heard it before, but it’s sound advice.  Even if you only have time to take a quick walk (or park in the furthest possible parking space from your building), exercise helps to keep you in good physical shape, reduces stress, and improves mood.
  • Learn to manage your stress.  If you find yourself stressed out all the time, take a look at the things that are causing you stress.  Are they really worth worrying about?  Sometimes they are, but worry and anxiety never solve the problem.  Come up with a strategy to tackle those situations head on.  When you do get stressed, find coping skills that work for you – time with friends, taking a break, or just a few minutes of deep breathing.
  • Eat well.  It can be hard to figure out how to eat a healthy diet on a tight budget, but with some practice, it can be done.  If you’re not sure where to start, do a little research and make a plan for healthy meals.  Bonus if you can prepare meals or snacks ahead of time so they’re ready before you’re starving.

Need more help with these areas?  The Ohio State Lima Student Wellness Center is open for Coaching.  Just check the hours on the Facebook page, posters around campus, or the door of the Wellness Center.  Stop in & ask one of the Coaches for some suggestions or more information.  You’ll be glad you did!

What if your teachers knew …?

Over the summer, Ohio State Lima Counseling Services office (LCCS) began a project aimed at connecting our faculty and our students.  And so far, the results have been exciting!!

Every year Kyle Schwartz, a third-grade teacher in Denver, Co, asks her students to fill out index cards anonymously completing the sentence, “I wish my teacher knew …”  This year, she began posting some of her students’ thought-provoking, sometimes poignant responses on Twitter.  She gained attention from around the world, and other teachers have tried her project in their classes as well.  It has been a way for Ms. Schwartz to learn about her students, feel connected to them, and for them to feel that they are cared about as individuals.  You can check her out yourself on Twitter @kylemschwartz or read some of the news stories linked below.

This year, we wanted to try something similar with our students.  We know our students come from a variety of backgrounds and have diverse family situations, interests, and motivations for being on our campus.  We also know that it’s important for their academic success to be engaged in the campus community.  To that end, Counseling Services has planned several outreach programs for the upcoming year to facilitate engagement.

But first, we needed the faculty’s help!  We asked our faculty to set a good example and to also be engaged in the campus community in this way.  We gave them each an index card and and asked them to complete the sentence “I wish my students knew …”  They could leave the card anonymous, and it could say anything they wished to communicate to students.
0824151311-1Our goal was for all of our faculty to take a moment to consider something (or more than one something) they’d like students to know.  Something about them, about teaching, about surviving college, something they wish someone had told them when they started this journey.

Well, our faculty did not disappoint!!  They shared with us personal stories, their love for teaching, and much more.  We’re posting these bits of insight and wisdom on our Facebook page with the hashtag #iwishmystudentsknew.  Keep an eye out for them.  We’ll also use them in student events that we conduct throughout the year.

Now it’s the students’ turn.  During Autumn semester, we will be collecting similar cards from students and sharing their responses with faculty, administration, and the larger campus community.  These will show up under the hashtag #Iwishmyteacherknew.

Want to see more?  Check out our Facebook page to keep up with what your teachers have to say, and what other Lima Buckeyes are saying.

 

 

More about Kyle Schwartz’s project:  (search: I wish my teacher knew)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/

http://www.today.com/news/

 

Welcome to Wellness at Ohio State Lima

Welcome to the new Ohio State Lima Wellness blog.  Here you’ll find all kinds of great information about maintaining – and improving – wellness in all areas of your life.

WHO WE ARE – 

Ohio State Wellness is the home for both the OSU Lima Student Wellness Center and the OSU Lima Counseling & Consultation Services.  We are a part of Student Life at Ohio State Lima and both have the over-arching goal of improving students’ lives – not just their academic performance, but helping them live happier, healthier, and well-informed.

Student Wellness Center – the SWC is a student-led program that provides many key services for OSUL students.  The SWC is manned by trained student volunteers who have extensive knowledge and experience working with all 9 dimensions of wellness.  

  • Wellness Coaching – Our SWC Wellness Coaches offer one-on-one peer coaching for other students.  Coaching meetings can be related to any area of wellness, but common topics include study skills, stress management, time management, getting involved on campus & making new friends, budgets and managing financial aid money a semester at a time, and tips & tricks for healthy eating on a budget.
  • Outreach Events – Throughout the year, Wellness Coaches plan and implement a variety of events aimed a improving student wellness in some way.  Past events have included cooking demonstrations for eating healthy on a budget, recyclables trade-ins for seedlings, free balloons for National Random Acts of Kindness Week, finger painting, hula hooping, and many more!

 

Lima Counseling & Consultation Services – LCCS is the Ohio State Lima office for student mental health.  We provide services such as assessment, diagnosis, brief psychotherapy, consultation, and referrals for students with a wide-array of mental health concerns.  Students seek services from LCCS for reasons as varied as homesickness, clinical depression & suicidal thinking, social anxiety, test anxiety, ADHD, relationship concerns, grief & loss, coming out issues, and many others.

  • All services are completely free for currently enrolled Ohio State Lima students.
  • All services are confidential – our clinical records are kept separate from academic records and we don’t talk with parents, professors, or anyone else about who comes to counseling or what happens during counseling.  There are some legal exceptions to this, such as when an individual is a danger to him/herself or others.

 

 HOW TO USE THE SERVICES – 

To see a Wellness Coach, check the hours posted outside the door (or on our Facebook page) for times that a Coach is available, and just walk in.  You may also email lima_swc@osu.edu to schedule an appointment.  

To participate in outreach programming from either SWC or LCCS, watch for announcements on Facebook (SWC or LCCS) or postings around campus for information about topics, dates, & times.

To see one of the therapists / counselors at LCCS, you may call, email, or stop in to make an appointment.