Why Planning for Finals Before Thanksgiving Makes All the Difference

This week with my college coaching clients, it’s all about planning for finals. You’d be surprised how many students have never created an official study plan—especially not weeks before exams begin, and definitely not before a break.

One of my clients perfectly illustrated why this matters.

“I’ll Figure It Out Later…”

When we sat down to map out his finals, he wasn’t resisting outright. It was more subtle—lots of vague talk about “how he usually studies” and comments like, “I have plenty of time.”

That phrase is one of the biggest red flags I see before procrastination hits. It’s the mind’s gentle way of saying, "I will deal with this when it's urgent".

First, Seeing Time for What It Really Is

We spread everything out:

• Every exam date and time

• Every project and paper deadline

• The actual last day of classes

• How many days were truly available for focused study

• How many days and hours each exam would require

  
  

Once everything was laid out visually, he had a moment of clarity. He could finally see how many real opportunities he had to prepare for his hardest class.

And you know what happened?

He decided to start studying three days earlier than he originally “ballparked.” Not because I told him to, but because the reality of his calendar made the decision for him.

Planning Creates Peace

Once the study plan was set, I asked him how he felt about Thanksgiving break.

He paused for a second and said,“Now I’ll REALLY be able to relax.”

That’s the magic of planning. Instead of carrying a vague cloud of unfinished academic obligations into break—hoping to relax but never fully unwinding—he gets to enjoy his time off knowing exactly what awaits him when he returns.

No dread.No uncertainty.No Sunday-night panic when he gets back to his dorm.

Will His Plan Go Perfectly? Of Course Not.

No study plan goes exactly as scheduled. But here’s the key: he now has a roadmap. Even if he completes 50% of the plan, that’s still a major improvement over the old “figure it out as I go” method. With a plan, he can adjust intentionally rather than react last-minute, or realize he didn't leave himself enough time.

Ask Students to Come Home for Break With a Plan

If you are (or have) a college student who’s putting off thinking about finals, encourage them to come home for Thanksgiving break with their finals study plan already mapped out. The mental relief alone is worth it.

Need Support?

If this kind of time-management skill-building is exactly what you—or your college student—needs, let’s talk. Starting coaching even in the final weeks of the semester can still make a meaningful difference in end-of-term outcomes. Or we can get ahead of next semester by building the systems and routines now that prevent overwhelm before finals even begin. Book a call or email me at laura@ruddercoaching.com