How To Be A Chill Guy During Finals

Reading period has officially begun and finals are just a few days away, meaning the last-minute scramble to self-teach an entire course’s material is in full swing. The resident Lamonsters will be more stressed than ever, with more coming out of the shadows (or staying in them…) as the days until exams tick down. One may think that having no classes or club meetings during reading period would leave students feeling free and social, but in Harvard fashion, it is quite the opposite. Those texts you send to grab a meal at the dhall will begin to go unanswered as people fall deeper into the trenches. All in all, the days leading up to finals are some of the most stressful that a student will experience, thus why Flyby recommends the ultimate solution: channel your inner Chill Guy. At the end of the day, who doesn’t want to just be a chill guy who lowkey doesn’t gaf. We put together a few ways in which you can channel Chill Guy’s spirit during finals week.

Don’t set alarms

With no 9 a.m. Justice section to struggle to get to in the morning and no pressure to get an early morning workout in because of a packed schedule, let yourself sleep in before finals. Sleep is one of the most important, and most overlooked, ways to prepare yourself for an exam. You may be able to brag to your friends about pulling an all-nighter in Cabot, but showing up late or exhausted to an exam is not worth the trade-off. Chill Guy definitely is in touch with his circadian rhythm, letting his body get ample rest when needed. Do not let an alarm define you: just be a chill guy and wake up when your body wants to.

Avoid over-studying

Even though it may seem like it when talking to your most dedicated peers, studying is not a competition. For some, spending every waking hour reviewing notes might be what they require, but for most, a simple few-hour-a-day study plan is all you need. Unless you did not attend a single lecture this semester and now have the monumental task of going through 13 weeks of material in one, be a chill guy about your studying. Instead of logging dozens of pointless hours studying minute things, focus on what really matters and spend your new-found free time having some fun before flying home for winter break.

Leave the Harvard bubble

The week before finals can be an eerie and quiet time on campus, with people clocking whole days in your favorite study spots. To avoid wandering around the library for 20 minutes trying to find a free chair, head out to Boston for a day. Take a few friends and plan to camp out in a cute café on Newbury St. or spend a few hours in the beautiful Boston Public Library; anywhere that is away from campus. Leaving the bubble is a great way to remind yourself that you are more than just a studying robot, and it is important to experience life. Chill Guy is always out in nature, living his life, and just because it is finals week does not mean you can’t do the same.

Good outfits, every day

Chill Guy’s staple outfit is one of the key factors in his atmosphere of chillness. He starts his day knowing that he’ll have a good outfit and be confident in it. You, dear Flyby reader, should follow in his footsteps. Putting extra emphasis on having a good outfit for the day can make a world of difference in your productivity and mood. You know what they say: look good, feel good. Throw on your best sweater, jeans, and nice shoes combo to match Chill Guy, or explore your own rendition of his staple outfit. Studying all day can be strenuous and monotonous, little things like a good outfit can go a long way.

Remember one exam won’t decide your entire future

You have probably heard this one countless times, and Chill Guy would say it to you again. Finals are an important part of the college academic experience, but that does not mean every other aspect of your life has to go out the window until they are over. Find a good balance of fun and locking in, preparing for a final does not have to be a hellish task. As long as you do your best, that is all anyone can ask of themselves. Contrary to the probable belief of freshmen in Math 55a, your final exams do not define you as a person. What you will be known for, though, is if you were a chill guy.

No matter who you talk to about finals, you will likely get the same response: that we are all stressed together. Even though it is tempting to sign your life away to the library for the week leading up to exams, that is the worst way to go about it. Instead, take Flyby’s expert advice and channel that inner Chill Guy. Make finals week a fun and productive time – the goal of college for most. Lowkey, don’t gaf!