'Tis the dreaded season of tears, late nights and tons of coffee. By now, you've probably already guessed that finals are officially upon us. Almost everybody has experienced stress during finals week. You're bound to experience the stress of finals at some point in your college career. Many college students don't know how to deal with their stress, so I took it upon myself to create a list of some things that I like to do when I'm stressed out.
1. Cuddle with a pet.
Usually, during finals week or sometime before, universities will have stress dogs for students to pet and play with. There's something about those puppy dog eyes that just lift all the weight off of your shoulders.
2. Make a schedule.
I don't know what is is about having a set plan that relieves stress, but it does the job and I'm all for it! I like to plan my week out and set aside a certain amount of time to study for each final. That way, you know when you need to study and you have no excuse to fail.
3. Take a hot bath or shower.
Showers give you time to relax and just think about anything and everything. You're able to just be alone and wash the stress levels down the drain. The hot water also helps relax your muscles.
4. Treat yourself to a face mask.
A face mask is always a nice stress reliever. Whether it be a sheet mask, clay mask, mud mask, etc., it's relaxing and cooling on your face. They even make face masks specifically for stress!
5. Listen to some feel good music.
Listening to music is helpful in any situation, especially when you're stressed out. You can play your favorite playlist while you study, but be careful not to get too caught up in singing along. It'll defeat the purpose of studying.
6. Make some coffee/tea and read a good book.
Grab your favorite brew and your favorite book and read a chapter or two. Just disappear into a fictional world for a while.
7. Eat the stress away.
Treat yourself to some cookies, or ice cream, or whatever it is that you want to indulge in. Chances are, finals week will be a hot mess so you might as well give yourself a treat to make up for it.
8. Take a nap.
Taking naps can be wonderful and refreshing, but they can also be dangerous. Make sure that you don't nap for too long to avoid becoming even more tired.
9. Do some yoga.
Whether you're a yoga pro or not, it's one of the best ways to relieve stress. Search videos on Youtube for short yoga sessions and stretch the stress away.
10. Go to the gym or go for a run.
As much as we all hate to work out, it really does help lower our stress levels and its really good for our minds, not just our bodies. Exercise releases endorphins into your body which helps to create a positive feeling, so you leave the gym feeling energized and ready to take on the world.
