1. Do a craft. It doesn't have to be anything big. Just something small you can work on for a bit to take you mind off of finals work. Paint a canvas, re-decorate an old glass bottle, do whatever! You can go on Pinterest and look up fun, easy ideas!
2. Watch some Netflix. Netflix 24/7 during finals isn't exactly a good thing, but watching an episode here and there after studying for a bit really helps you to relax and can prevent you from being too overwhelmed by everything you have to do. Watch an episode of something that makes you laugh!
3. Play a game with friends. You are certainly not alone in being stressed about finals! Everyone is. Get together with some friends and play a board game between your study sessions.
4. Pamper yourself. Go out and get your nails done, get a massage, do whatever you need to do to #treatyoself.
5. Read. Don't read a 2,000 page anthology or anything, but pick a book you enjoy or maybe a new one you just got and read a few chapters.
6. Take a nap. You need sleep! Constantly pulling all-nighters to study doesn't help in the long run. Your body needs rest. So close the book, stop typing that essay, and take a nice, much-needed nap.
7. Color. It sounds silly, but coloring things from a little booklet or a print-out mandala pattern can be really relaxing and take your mind off all of your work.
8. Volunteer. Taking time out of your busy studying schedule to do volunteer work in the community can be a nice change from the stuffiness of the library. By volunteering somewhere for a little bit, you are not only de-stressing yourself, but you are making someone else's day a little brighter.
9. Re-decorate your room. Sometimes you just need to switch things around. Taking an hour or so to re-arrange your room and switch up the decorations will make your room feel fresh and new.
10. Try something new. Start that hobby you've been wanting to for a while. Do something exciting and out of your typical routine to have some fun in between writing essays and throwing back espressos.
11. Exercise. You don't have to do a full-out P90X video, but try to jog on the treadmill or lift some light weights. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which make you feel good and happy.
12. Go for a quick walk. Same thing with exercising, really. It also helps to change your setting every now and then so you're not in the same study room for days on end. Getting some fresh air really helps.
13. Do yoga. Again, same concept as getting exercise. Yoga is also very relaxing and focuses on breathing, which can help when you start stressing hard about exams and essays.
14. Write in a journal. Sometimes it helps to get all of your ideas out there. Take however long you need (within reason, of course) to write some of your thoughts down in a journal or a notebook. Try not to write about how much you have to do, but just jot some things down. It can help you clear your mind a bit.
What do you do to relax during finals?
