We handed over our Instagram account to Ami for the day. This is her day in Rome.

CIAO CIAO FROM ROME! My name is Ami(Girl) and I’m studying abroad at John Cabot University in Rome this semester! I’m an education major with a minor in history so basically I’ve been in heaven the past four months! I’m hoping to show you all “A day in the life” of a study abroad student’s week of finals, and provide some study tips that could make this experience less stressful. Here’s to my first cappuccino of the day! Let’s see how many I have by the end.

Tip 1:
Finals can be overwhelming and stressful. Studying with a friend can help motivate you to work harder and stay focused. Find a place you can both work well in and encourage each other when you need it. It can be useful to talk something over with them if you get stuck on an assignment. Sometimes a fresh pair of ears and eyes is all you need!

Tip 2:
Take a study break! Often times you feel a lot more tired than you actually are because you work for long periods of time – especially in the computer. Long periods of time staring at a screen can lead to “tired eyes”, which can ultimately have negative effects. It’s said the average person blinks about 15-20 times per minute, but if you’re using a computer, the frequency is reduced to 6-8 times! So take a study break every hour or so to ensure you’re maximizing your study time! Don’t be afraid to get that gelato… when in Rome, right?

Tip 3&4:
3. Know your limits! You know our body better than anyone, which means you also know your limits better than anyone. Sometimes you just NEED a break, a nap, or even a hug! Be the judge of your own progress. It’s 9:39 and I just woke up from an hour and a half nap and then took a shower! Some people might say that’s crazy, but I know if I had tried to stay up after seven consecutive hours of studying, I wouldn’t have gotten any work done and would’ve felt more exhausted. I’m more refreshed than ever and ready to conquer my exams tomorrow! 💪🏼

4. Stay hydrated!!!! I’m going to say that louder for the people in the back: STAY HYDRATED, and no, coffee doesn’t count! While coffee is said to help speed you metabolism in the morning, and give you energy, water in the most important liquid to drink- especially during exams. Water increases your energy, boosts your immune system, and can even help win headaches! These benefits could help you study more efficiently. You should drink about 1.5-2 liters of water a day on average. Now consider all the coffee and energy drinks you have during exams… It’s pivotal to reach those goals during these stressful times! If you’re feeling sluggish during exams, reach for that extra glass of water to help you stay alert!

Tip 5 (final tip)
This is my favorite tip to give! If I’m ever stressed about an exam, paper, presentation, etc. my dad asks me if I did the best I could. This normally calms me down because even if I didn’t do “the best” I could, I did the best I could in the situation I was in. “Just do your best” may seem cliché, but it’s so true! Do the best you can because there’s really not much more you can do. If you fail, at least you fail trying, not from a lack of effort.

Good luck to everyone with the rest of their semester! Hope you enjoyed these tips (: thanks for listening!!! Happy studying.

– Ami is a Spring 2017 SAI Rome student from St. Norbert College.