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Deb Levy | Coaching Is Good

Deb Levy, M.Ed., PCC

Certified Business and Life Coach

Keys to Success During Finals

The end of the semester can be stressful. Very stressful. The pressure to complete papers and study for final exams can throw off our already precarious school/work/family balance. Add a twisted ankle, unexpected car repair, or anxiety over the recent Boston tragedy and you have the making of a crisis.

Let’s breathe. Inhale through your nose for five seconds. Exhale through your mouth for five seconds. Do this for a minute, and begin to feel relaxation take over.

Now step back and look at this again. In my experiences teaching and coaching students and clients, I’ve collected several tips that can help you prepare to learn better, work smart, and—yes—enjoy this time of year. Here are two to get you started. I’ll share three more in a future post.

  1. Make a plan


To maintain balance and focus during finals, you need to plan and prioritize. What do you need to get done? What can you put off until after finals?

  • Write down each assignment and due date. List all the subgoals for meeting the deadline.

  • Schedule blocks of time to work on each task. Review and revise your schedule each day depending on what you accomplish.

  • Decide which activities or responsibilities you need to say “no” to this month. Avoid requests that could distract you.

  • Reward yourself when you get anything done. And make time for recovery.

To help you get started, download my worksheets:

Weekly block schedule    Goal action plan

  1. Ask for help


Adult learners have adult lives with many competing demands. We need to ask for help. Remember: School is about learning. Don’t be embarrassed to admit you don’t know something.

  • If you need help with the material:

    • Contact your professor or teaching assistant. Or join a study group. Fellow students are great learning partners.

    • Find a tutor. If you’re struggling with a paper, check out the Writing Center. Math assistance can be found at the Math Question Center in Sever Hall 215, open Mondays, 5:30-7:30 pm, and Tuesdays, 7:40-9:40 pm.

    • For more study and tutor resources, see Study Skills and Tutoring.

  • If you are panicked about meeting your deadlines, speak to a coach to help you get organized.

  • If you have extenuating circumstances, talk to your instructor. You may qualify for an extension.

  • Is there someone in your life who can pick up some of the slack in other areas (e.g., the laundry, the dog walking)? Any help you can get to allow you to stay track should be welcome.