The end of the spring semester is finally upon us. After yet another seemingly endless winter, the weather is finally starting to get warmer, and with that comes all the tasks for wrapping up the semester. As many students know, this time of year is often packed full of homework, studying, and exams. Finals season can be daunting because of the inevitable exhaustion that comes with it. Despite this, there is a creative and exciting way for you to manage your workload. This is partaking in a study crawl!
A study crawl can really be whatever you want it to be, but the basic idea is that you spend a day studying in a variety of places. This can be a great way to naturally break up your time and keep your environment from getting stagnant. Doing this can optimize your productivity and make a heavy workload seem lighter while providing a little fun as well. Staying in one place all day to study works for some people, but most need some variety. If you think you could benefit from this, you may want to plan a study crawl in advance.
The best day to do this might be May 8 as this is reading and review day. There will be no classes, but campus and most other study places will be open for you to use. Maybe you want to start the day off at a local coffee shop like The Boardroom on campus. After that maybe you want to swing by the Memorial Union to grab some lunch and find a quiet space there. Later, if you want to leave campus you could make your way downtown to Urban Stampede or Tea and Crepe for another caffeinated pick me up. Finally, the Chester Fritz Library usually has extended hours during finals, so you may want to close out your study crawl by taking advantage of that space.
The beautiful thing about a study crawl is that it is totally personalized to you and what will most effectively promote your own productivity. If you want to get together with friends to plan a study crawl together, that can be a great option. It can also be just as fun to do it solo. Maybe you want a mixture of both, so you meet up for a few hours at a coffee shop with friends and then move onto the next location alone.
However you choose to study, the most important thing is that it promotes the best experience for you. This time of year can feel heavy, and it is essential that you take care of your own needs. Of course, it is also important to take time to study and prepare for finals. Finding a good balance between self-care, fun, and success is something you will need in all aspects of life, so building good habits now is a great idea. Participating in a study crawl this semester may be just the thing you need to do this.
Nora Lee is a Dakota Student Section Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].
