Avoid “Christmasitis”: the Grinch of finals week
Lights hang along the wall of the study. Photo courtesy of Helen Innes ’19.
As a senior, I have welcomed my fair share of finals week before the Holiday break and dearly-needed vacation. Also, as a senior, I feel that my class has the responsibility to disperse our knowledge of Xavier like snowflakes for all the classes to absorb. And just like snowflakes, every piece of knowledge is different: whether it is about not standing in the middle of the hallway like a giant icicle or making sure to create a class Quizlet (@ XCP 2019), there is certainly a lot to learn.
And now my advice: avoid “Christmasitis”. Studying for fall finals is always difficult, but when Christmas is thrown in the mix, it is especially unmotivating. You have been good for Santa all year long, so do not stop now. Below are a list of tips and tricks that have proved useful in motivating me to study for fall finals, though feel free to comment more below.
- Bake the cookies: Everyone needs a studying break, especially a busy Xavier student. In between subjects, bake some quick snickerdoodles or chocolate chips. Not only will you be able to return to studying with a warm cookie, but baked goods never go under appreciated at school.
Cookies freshly baked from the oven. Photo courtesy of Helen Innes ’19. - Light the candle: The aroma of Christmas trees or fresh-baked anything are enough to send the grinch back to the North Pole. With candles sold at Target, even in small containers, there is no excuse why a warm holiday studying nook cannot smell divine.
- Deck the halls: Hang up lights wherever you study. I can almost guarantee that if you feel the Christmas spirit while studying, flipping flashcards on Quizlet will feel much more enjoyable with lights twinkling in the background.
- Snuggle up with hot chocolate and a fuzzy blanket: Yes, I know that this sounds cheesy. But wait, do not leave! If you feel comfortable studying, you will not have nearly as many distractions as you would have otherwise. And plus, who does not love a nice, cozy pre-holiday?
- Ditch the phone: Sorry, Snapchat. The app might need to get a new “studying” filter because right now it is certainly not helping with it. Snapchat is a common distraction for Xavier students.
Senior Holly Ngo said that she always studys with, “When I do my study guides I do calligraphy so that I stay focused but I also always have a peppermint mocha from Starbucks.”