LINDSEY BOERMA
Living Assistant
Silence blankets the campus, sweat bullets pour down the faces of everyone from freshmen to seniors. Textbooks are opened, sometimes for the first time all semester. With finals just around the corner, so is the looming air of the most dreaded time in a college student’s life. It is Dead Week, when teachers of all subjects maniacally rub their hands together with the malicious intent to destroy hopes, dreams and grade point averages — at least from a student’s perspective. But do not despair, trembling students. Here are some ways to liven up the so-called “dead week” and make your last days as school almost bearable.
Step One: Erase the image
The name “dead week” comes with a tremendous amount of baggage. It does not merely have a negative connotation, but it evokes feelings of terror inside students that only an Alfred Hitchcock movie should do. So, before you do anything, erase the stereotype of Dead Week in your mind and replace it with something lighthearted and enjoyable. For example, if your weakness happens to be cute, fluffy kittens prancing about a meadow full of flowers, then next time you hear the words “dead week,” associate them with the image of those adorable little cats. After a while, the term “dead week” will hold a special place in your heart.
Step Two: Change it up
For a college student, crossing something off a list is the most liberating thing you can do. In addition to the invigorating experience that fiercely swiping your hand across a word with a permanent marker allows you to have, making lists also helps to get things done. So, for the upcoming Dead Week, write your tasks down in order of priorities, and gradually work down from the top. For example, studying for that impossible religion exam should come before catching the sock sale Thursday at the mall.
Step Three: Change it up
Getting into some kind of rut is nearly impossible to avoid during dead week. When under pressure, students tend to fall into a pattern of what they think works best. For instance, they may have specific times to eat, places to study and even set games to play online while trying to distract themselves. But, instead of falling into this trap of despair, try something different every day. If you do not try out various options, not only will you never know for sure what works best for you, but you will also never find that online game that is perfect for distracting you.
Step Four: Think free thoughts
Unless you were hiding under a rock during past semesters, you may have noticed that the school and its organizations feel bad for us poor, sleep-deprived students during Dead Week. Fortunately for us, they show their pity through the wonderful world of free stuff. That’s right, everywhere you turn on campus, free food, massages, exercise classes and the like are begging you to take advantage of them. So, as Dead Week approaches, keep an eye out for flyers and posters advertising these free bits of glory, keep them in a safe place and reference them daily so that visions of these free things will dance in your head and motivate you through the seemingly endless week.
Step Five: Take a break
While spending endless hours locked in your room with no connection to the outside world and hovering over countless textbooks may seem like the studious thing to do, think again. Being productive does not always mean being anti-social. So, every couple of hours, make it a point to take a break from your work and do something enjoyable. Whether it be grabbing a smoothie, taking a walk or rolling down the nearest hill with your most chatty friend, getting away from your work will help you to clear your mind and even get in any list bits of campus mischief before summer vacation.
04-05-2007