The spring semester is coming to a close, and finals are looming on the horizon. Starting on May 5 and being done by the 11 (https://www.bradley.edu/academic/classes/spring/finals/) many Bradley students are in search of effective ways to study and focus in the upcoming weeks. There are several different places students can study on campus, their dorm rooms are an obvious choice, but a personal room is full of distractions, not to mention roommates. In Williams hall there are study rooms, small rooms open to the residents that contain only a desk and a chair. These study rooms can help with focus more so than studying in a dorm room, but they aren’t soundproof so those inside can still hear everything in the hallway. If a student requires near silence in order to focus, then the library is an effective location to set up shop. The library provides a number of extra services that make it an effective place to study, chief among them being the study rooms that students can reserve up to a week in advance. These rooms allow students to study together in groups of 4, allowing for collaboration without disturbing other library patrons. Each reservation grants a 4 hour time slot, which can be extended at the front desk if the room is not booked by another group (You can reserve a room here: https://www.bradley.edu/academic/lib/services/reservations/). Another service that the library provides is research help. Each department has a liaison librarian who can help students find information in relation to the class they are studying for. Students can even schedule one-on-one meetings with these librarians for more specialized support. Finals can be stressful, so it is also important for students to take breaks from their studying in order to avoid burnout and reduce stress. There are many events run by Bradley student and administrative groups, students can find information and dates for these events in the “Hilltop Happenings” newsletter that is emailed to students regularly throughout the year (The latest release of the newsletter as of writing this piece is provided here: https://www.smore.com/80frg-hilltop-happenings?ref=email-content#w-6948995610). A visit to the rec center is also an effective way to relieve stress in these times. Exercise can be a great stress reliever, and the rec center has plenty of equipment for dedicated athletes and beginners. You can find operational hours for the rec center as well as specifically the pool and the rock wall here: https://www.bradley.edu/campuslife/campusrec/facilities/markin/ . It is possible that for some students, something as simple as taking a walk around campus can calm their nerves. Staying cooped up in any given room can be stifling, and so getting some fresh air can be greatly beneficial to the overall efficiency of a student’s study sessions. There are many ways to reduce stress, so for more ideas on effective stress relieving breaks check the link here: https://conservationbiology.ls.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/289/2018/08/Stress-Relieving-Breaks.pdf
Finals can be a very stressful time, but with the right stress relief methods and by utilizing the many resources provided by Bradley University, students can effectively study for their exams, and pass their classes before relaxing over the summer break.