Well, it's that time of year. Finals Week is upon us, and if you're like me, you're probably slowly falling apart from stress. It's completely understandable, what with all the papers and exams being thrown at us. There are some moments when you just feel like giving up on your 12 page paper. You may even want drop kick your laptop out the window before quitting out of college due to the stress.
Yeah. Don't do that. Before you curl up into the fetal position, take a look through this list and find a something to take your mind off of finals for a moment.
1) Eat Something.
If you feel like you have no energy and can't seem to focus on your work, eat something. Not junk food, though. Even though I'm guilty of "eating my feelings," whenever I get super stressed, I'll take a break to go grab a snack. Sure, Sour Patch Kids are good, but some fruit or nuts are a) healthier and b) can help you focus. For instance, blueberries are shown to help with concentration, and dark chocolate can improve your mood (and satisfy your sweet tooth) while giving you a small caffeine boost.
2) Get Some Sleep.
You're not yourself when you're tired. Sure, one would think that pulling an all nighter would help you accomplish everything. Yet, if you deprive yourself of sleep just to cram for an exam, chances are you won't retain that information, since lack of sleep affects your memory, as well as your mood. All nighters aren't the way to go, which brings me to my next point....
3) Plan Everything Out.
Setting aside time to study is crucial, especially when your sleep schedule and your ability to keep yourself together is on the line. Writing out your tumultuous week ahead can help you prioritize assignments and make sure that you're keeping up with obligations. (It's also super satisfying to cross things off as you go, so there's that too.)
4) Vent.
Sometimes though, crossing things off a list isn't as satisfying as a rant to a friend. So while you're at it, maybe plan a venting session with your group. Or organize a cathartic scream the night before your exam. Do what you need to do to keep calm. No judgement here.
5) Exercise!
To quote Elle Woods: "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy." It's true: exercise (though it can be the worst thing ever at times) can help you de-stress via endorphins. Even though it can be hard to motivate yourself to work out, it can be very calming, even if you just simply go for a walk or twenty minutes of yoga.
6) Clean Your Space.
Okay, hear me out. You may think that you don't have time to clean, and even if you did, why during Finals Week? Though it can be a pain, cleaning your room gives you a moment to breathe and focus on accomplishing a simpler task. You can also seize the moment and start packing your things to prep for move-out, and that takes away one more stressful thing.
7) Motivate Yourself!
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your pile of work remains just as high and you can't help but get frustrated. Moments like this is when it is especially tempting to give up, but don't! Write yourself encouraging sticky notes. Take a study break and find something online that inspires you. Do whatever you need to do to keep going.
And last, but definitely not least:
8) TREAT YO'SELF
Okay, this is something to do at the end of Finals Week. One last thing to drive home the point that you survived a crazy week and you deserve to relax. Go out with friends. Break out the junk food (in moderation, of course). Burn your class notes (or maybe not). Find something that makes yourself happy and celebrate!
Happy Finals!
