- Chase Newsome
How to destress during finals
The most stressful time of the school year is upon us. Can you guess what it is? That’s right.
Finals week.
The week where everything we’ve learned through the entire semester is crammed into one test for each class. The one thing we always hear when we start losing it is, “Hey, don’t stress.”
Wow. Why didn’t I think of that?
It’s not as easy as it sounds. Often times we get so caught up in what we have to do that we forget to take time off for ourselves to give our brains the much-needed downtime that it deserves. You may be thinking, “I just don’t have time to relax.”
Of course you do.
You’d be surprised what 15 minutes of relaxation can do for you. However, just in case you aren’t sure about how to go about handling finals week, we are going to cover five ways you can destress so that you can walk into the classroom with confidence.
Go to the gym. Exercising is one of the best ways to relieve stress. Your workout doesn’t have to be long and it doesn’t even have to involve going to an actual gym. Yoga, simply going for a run or doing a quick 30-minute in-home workout can improve your mood dramatically.
Eat a healthy meal. A lot of times, we happen to get into the zone when it comes to our work and we forget to eat or, even worse, we snack on little things like chips or cookies because it’s convenient for us in the moment. Those unhealthy snacks eventually just wind up making us feel worse. Give your body the nutrients it needs and it will spark an increase in your cognitive function.
Create a study schedule. If you feel as though you don’t have time, write down everything that you have to do that day and put it into a schedule. Dedicate the times in the day where you need to get work done. Then, in between those times, give yourself a break. This also helps with making sure you’re able to get enough hours of sleep because you’re able to plan on when to go to bed.
Be social. Spending time with friends is always a good way to take the edge off. Whether it’s going to get something to eat or going to see a movie, the little things can make a huge difference. Plus, who doesn’t feel better after a good laugh?
Think of what’s to come. It’s important to realize that it doesn’t last forever. The stress is only temporary and before you know it, finals week will be over and you’ll be on your way home to a beautiful and relaxation-filled holiday. Motivate yourself knowing that once you get through it, you won’t have to worry about it anymore.
Once finals week is over, you’ll be home and the destressing will begin.
You will no longer have to worry about due dates or live in the constant fear of wondering how you’re going to pass the next test. It’s funny because at some point, even though the semester was stressful, you’ll be wishing to come back.
So, while you are home over the break, enjoy the moment with old friends and family because as soon as you get back here, you’ll be begging for the semester to end.
