Finals are the bane of every high school and college student's existence. Stress abounds, and it can be a challenge finding ways to help take the edge off in between furiously checking chemistry notes and historical records. No matter what your classes in high school or your major in college is, it's important to give your mind a break during particularly intense study sessions. These are just a few methods for doing just that.
The first method some would turn to is listening to an audio book. Set the textbooks aside and let someone else do the work of reading while you just enjoy the story. If you're not sitting in the library while studying, you can even close your eyes, lean back, and simply visualize the mural the narrator is painting for you. A good place to find audio books is audible.com. The site is not free, but it does provide a plethora of different genres. One of their most recent releases is J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. This method is good for giving your eyes a rest, and it gives your mind a chance to process all the information it had taken in previously.
For those of us less inclined to close their eyes lest they fall victim to slumber, playing an instrument is also a good break from studying. For most, come the later years of high school and college, playing their instrument of choice is less focused on the technical factors, and more on enjoying playing the music. Pick an easy and fun tune. It could even be something you made up yourself! (I'm partial to playing John Williams' Raiders March or a Pirates of the Caribbean medley using music from Klaus Badelt) The action of playing and reading music uses a different kind of concentration than simply studying. Play for a little while, and then return to studying. Generally, it makes focusing back on finals material easier.
Finally, for those of us that simply wish to forget about thinking for some time, sitting back and playing with a furry friend can be a great way to dull the stress of finals. It really makes no difference what the animal is. It could be a dog, a cat, your cousin's hamster, or even a chinchilla if you're feeling adventurous. For those that suffer allergies, there are various fluffy pets out there that are easier on the system. Poodles and Afghan Hounds are just two of the many choices of dogs. Cat lovers with allergies would find fewer issues petting a Siberian or a Russian Blue than other varieties of feline.
These are three methods that I have found work well for reducing stress during the mad dash that is finals week, and the month or so leading up to it. If they aren't for you, then hopefully they may help you think of something that will help you relieve some of the finals stress burden.
