Finals week is here. That long-dreaded week when anxieties are high and our stress-levels are through the roof. Finals week can be stressful for every college student, but for those of us with a mental illness, we sometimes feel the stress ten-fold. In the chaos to study and prepare for our exams we can forget to take care of ourselves. I know I do. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my projects and my studying that I forget that I need food, water, and sleep in order to make it through. With finals week upon us, I came up with a list of ways to take care of yourself when you're pushing through to the end.
Eat and drink. I know it seems like common sense, but these are actually easy to forget when you get busy and involved in your studies. Make sure you eat food and drink water regularly. Carry a water bottle with you if it helps. I don't always carry a water bottle with me (though I should), but I frequently the water fountains across campus. Eat healthy when you can, but in all honesty something is better than nothing. Take the time to eat and drink -- I simply cannot stress this enough. Nutrition and hydration is important for fueling your body, and it will help you stay focused.
Take breaks. Again, it might seem like common sense, but breaks are necessary! It doesn't have to be a long break, but you should aim to take at least five minutes every hour and aim to take some longer breaks here and there, too. It can be hard to stay focused and you can easily burn yourself out if you try to study for hours on end. Listen to your body. It will give you clues that its time to take a break (headache, stomach ache, hand cramps, etc.)
Take mental health days. We've all had those days where we've had good intentions. We want to write notes on some material, maybe we want to work on an assignment or two. Read a chapter in the textbook. But we wake up and we can just feel that our mental illness is going to win the battle, and studying suddenly isn't on our radar anymore. That's okay! It's alright to take a day off to do something mindless, enjoyable, or relaxing. It's important to take these days when we need to. Our bodies and our minds need days of relaxation, and there's no reason to feel ashamed for taking care of yourself.
Socialize. Go to that party you were invited to. Catch up with a friend and get some coffee. Catch up with your friends on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, SnapChat, and Instagram. Spend time with your family! There's nothing wrong with doing those things, just as long as you continue to make time for your schoolwork and don't put it all off until the last minute. Not letting yourself socialize, especially when you're having a day where you feel off and you've been struggling and you use removing yourself from others as punishment, can contribute to a cycle of burn out. I've been there. I have a nasty habit of cancelling plans as punishment because I was too exhausted to study and thought that I didn't deserve to spend time with people. This semester, I've changed that. I've taken time to spend with my family and put schoolwork off until just a bit later, and I've found that I'm not only happier but I'm more productive. You just need to find a balance that works for you.
Don't be afraid to talk to someone. Talk to a therapist, a friend, a significant other, a parent, a teacher/professor, a sibling. Anyone! If you trust them and you know it's alright to talk to them about the things that are bothering you, than talk to them. Don't be afraid. Talking about things that are bothering you can help you to start working through those things -- even if it's only a little at a time, it's better than pretending they don't exist. And don't be afraid to let your teachers/professors know that you're going through a difficult time. Teachers/professors have a bad reputation for not caring about how you're feeling, but I've found that to be false nine times out of ten. They want you to succeed, and my professors have always been more than willing to help me out.
Exercise. It's good to get up and move around every once in a while. As I've said before, it's good to give your mind and your body a break.
Sleep! Get a good night's sleep. For some reason, all-nighters have become glorified. They're not glorious. They're stressful and terrible for you. I've pulled a few all-nighters this semester, and while I've gotten the work done it wasn't my best work and I felt like complete shit because I didn't sleep. Most people find that seven to nine hours is adequate, but you know your body better than anyone else so you know how much sleep you need to be productive. Try to go to bed earlier and getting up earlier.
Be fair to yourself. Know your needs, and treat yourself fairly. Even if you're not able to get everything done that you wanted, even if you had to take a mental health day when you had a lot of work to do. If you spent a few hours socializing instead of writing that paper that's due next week. It's okay. Your feelings are valid. You're not weak, you're not worthless, you're not a failure. You can do this. You've done so well and you've come so. far. You've made it through another day, and you're amazing.
Even if you're not struggling with a mental illness, follow these tips! You also need sleep, water, food, breaks, and to be treated fairly. You're all amazing and wonderful people, and I love you all.
