With just a few weeks left in school, crunch time is right around the corner. Students are getting anxious and they can barely keep up with the ever-long list of homework professors seem to align at secret meetings to maximize stress.
Even though every year I tell myself that I will prepare the best I can in order to avoid the stress of the last few weeks of the semester, I seem to fall into the same dark void over and over again.
My friends and family tell me not to stress. Stress in big amounts can be detrimental to the well-being of just about anyone. Those around me are not strangers to the effects of stress.
I have found that few items calm my stress. In these moments, the only thing I have in the back of my mind is the endless stack of papers waiting to be written and the books neatly stacked on the top of my desk waiting to be read.
Over the past few years, however, I have found a few things that seem to calm my nerves when a cup of coffee just isn’t enough to keep me going and I have to force myself to take a break.
1. Reading
I have found that reading is such a great way to escape the business of everyday life and step into a mind that isn’t your own. I love reading in my free time because it forces me to forget all of the worries I have going on in my brain. It’s also a good way to refocus. Sometimes all I need is to take my mind off of homework to boost my creativity.
2. Shopping
Now, I know that this isn’t the best recommendation if you are trying to maintain a tight budget. However, sometimes swiping a card once or twice doesn’t hurt when you want to splurge and reward yourself. The only thing I can say is to try to keep it within a budget and don’t overspend when you go out by setting a clearly defined limit before leaving.
3. Organize
Now this is my favorite one, but it can also be the most overwhelming. The key is to not try to organize your entire life but just something simple and not time-consuming. Something like a planner, a drawer or the rewards cards in your wallet. This helps ease my stress by distracting me for a while and at the same time, it’s also a productive outlet.
4. Exercise
Sometimes I feel like my muscles get really tense at the thought of sitting down at a desk for long periods of time while trying to cram for a test. Exercising is a relaxing way for me to take a break and stretch. As a student, I spend way too much time sitting down. Any amount of physical activity is helpful in the long run.
While finals are coming up, students must remember to try to keep their stress levels in check so that they don’t suffer from its side effects. Try something new to relieve your occupied mind. Don’t forget that there are many more ways to distress and decompress than the things I listed here. I encourage you to find your own stress-reliever!
