As American college students start to feel the drag of the first semester drawing to an end, the anticipation for Thanksgiving break continues to grow each and every class that passes by. Students are anxiously tapping their toes, daydreaming in class while counting down the days till they get a break from the constant work that is needed to go through college. But as Thanksgiving break comes and goes, a new-found anxiety is formed: the preparation for finals week.
No student is surprised by the arrival of finals week, it is always inevitable. It is always on the back of students minds; whether that be from counting down the time till winter break or their professors constantly reminding them. But either way, finals week always hits the college student like a semi-truck on the interstate. If there is anything I have learned through my two years of college so far, it's that time does not stop for anyone or anything. And with college, you often find yourself speeding through each and every week of the semester. One moment it is Halloween and the next it is two weeks to finals.
But with sudden realization of time between now and finals week, there comes a sudden fear of preparation with a college student's mind. How much time do I have to spend studying for this final? How many finals do I have? Are there final projects I have to worry about? All of these factors continue to weigh itself on a student's shoulders and inevitably leading to higher stress levels.
Stress itself can lead to many health problems both mentally and physically. According to the Healthline Directory, stress can physically cause headaches, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, heart burn and stomach aches. Mentally, it can cause an increase in depression and insomnia.
However, there are many easy (and cheap) ways that students can combat end-of-the-semester stress.
1. Take a break from sitting and take a walk around campus
2. Don't be afraid to call home and have a conversation with your parents
3. Go to bed earlier! Sleep works wonders on your body, especially your brain
4. Eat healthy, balanced meals throughout the day. Your brain needs healthy fuel to help you through those hours of studying. It is scientifically proven that a healthy diet can improve your long-term memory.
5. Break your big projects/studying into small chunks to work on over time. This prevents an overflow of information going in at once as well as unnecessary all-nighters.
6. Prioritize and schedule your time, but don't forget to schedule in breaks where you can relax.
7. Utilize campus resources! This can range form tutors, study groups, professor help as well as personal counseling if you just need to vent.
Every student has their own reasons for wanting to succeed in school. But no one should feel obligated to stress over finals. It is astounding how much stress can be packed into one week in the semester. So if you ever find yourself in any of situation of extreme stress, whether in college or not, take a step back and just breathe. Life should be enjoyable for everyone, and for the college student, grades and finals shouldn't be the end of the world. Take a step back. Relax. And carry on.
