As Iowa State students prepare for the stress and pressure of finals week, many are relying on structured study routines, self-care practices and campus resources to stay on track.
Aubrey Holst, a sophomore in elementary education, said maintaining a healthy sleep schedule is key to her success.
“I make sure I take care of myself by getting a full eight hours of sleep each night so I can do well on my exams,” Holst said.
Holst also emphasized the importance of collaboration and finding a comfortable study environment.
“I try to take advantage of the friendships that I’ve made in my classes and go somewhere and study together and work on our projects,” Holst said. “We make sure that we are all motivated and can ask each other if we have any questions.”
Holst said her favorite place to study is the Center for Technology in Learning and Teaching in Lagomarcino Hall, a space often filled with fellow education majors.
“I like the environment and how quiet it is,” Holst said. “It is usually all education majors, too.”
Courtney Hubbell, a senior in industrial engineering, takes a more intense approach to finals preparation.
“I have to study so much, so I usually go to the library and lock myself in one of the cubicles on the third floor behind the bookcases,” Hubbell said. “I go through all of my slide decks and all the homework assignments I’ve done. I kind of just cram until I can’t cram anymore.”
For Hubbell, prioritizing her needs makes a difference in her productivity.
“I make sure I get sleep and that I’m well-caffeinated,” Hubbell said. “I cook good food when I can. I make sure I prioritize meals because I don’t study well without food.”
Samantha Cranstoun, a senior in interior design, is balancing finals with both work and personal responsibilities.
“As a design major, I have a lot of projects to wrap up and studying for the few finals I have,” Cranstoun said.
Cranstoun also works at the testing center and is increasing her hours during finals week.
“I’m also a testing center employee so I try to get a lot of hours in there during finals week,” Cranstoun said. “I’ll be taking advantage of that to bring in some funds for the holidays.”
When she needs a stress reliever, Cranstoun said she visits Parks Library for its Barks@Parks event.
“I like to go to the library when they bring the puppies for Barks@Parks,” Cranstoun said. “I will probably be doing that this week.”
Parks Library will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday during prep week and will shift to 24/7 hours during finals week to accommodate increased student traffic. The Barks@Parks event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, giving students a chance to relax and de-stress with therapy dogs.
