As the end of the semester approaches, students are suddenly reintroduced to projects, assignments and papers that have not been discussed since the first week of school with the syllabus. Although you knew that you would eventually be doing them, it brings about stress as assignments and due dates pile up. I’m here to take you through ways to de stress and stay organized with finals week approaching.
1. Make a list.
Review the syllabi from all classes to make a list of assignments still due for the rest of the semester. Then rearrange them into the dates they are due, rather than the classes they are for. Start working on them whenever you have time to get ahead and avoid procrastination.
2. Start eating healthy.
Get a fresh smoothie with your lunch to keep antioxidants in your system. If you are stressed out, you are more likely to get sick. So eat healthy, keep a water bottle by your side, and take a daily multivitamin with vitamin C in it to ward off any sickness.
3. Go out with friends!
Schedule time in between studying to go out with friends. Not for too long, but long enough to have a good time and escape schoolwork for an hour or two.
4. Stay organized.
Print off a free monthly calendar, if you don't already have one, to visualize when papers, projects and presentations are due, as well as when each exam is. Color code them by course to keep the calendar visually appealing, while not becoming too overwhelming. Plus, crossing off days will help you keep your eye on the prize: winter break!
5. Clean up clutter.
Make sure to keep up with your laundry and a clean room. You will want clean, comfy clothes to endure the last few weeks of class. It could also be hard to focus on school work if you are surrounded by clutter. Keep in mind that the state of your room usually represents your state of mind. Right now, you want your mind and room to be organized.
6. Do not cut social media out of your routine.
Do not cut social media out of your routine if you will be constantly wondering about it. I’ve tried it before. The thought is that by deleting these apps they will not be a distraction. If this works for you, that’s great! But if you are like me, you will probably just be wondering about what you are missing out on. This is why I do not delete social media. I would rather have it and limit myself to 5 minutes between studying to look at my apps. Chances are, everyone else is off of social media studying, or if they are still on, they are complaining about studying, so there’s really no point in looking. But if you feel the need, you will grow bored quickly and return to studying.
7. Refresh your mind.
You are more likely to be calm during exam week if information from the entire semester is fresh in your brain. You’re thinking that’s impossible, aren’t you? Well, it’s not. All you need to do is read either one full notebook a night, or if you have time, read each notebook every single night to keep all of the information fresh.
8. Do something to pamper yourself.
Girls: have a spa night to do your nails and wear face masks. Boys: do something you’ve been wanting to do for yourself. Take a bath, read a book.
9. Start exercising.
“Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don’t kill their husbands,” (Elle Woods, "Legally Blonde").
Exercise will help you release stress and built up tension, while releasing endorphins to help you become a happier person.
10. Sleep.
Getting at least eight hours of sleep is crucial during this stressful time. All-nighters are very common towards the end of the semester, but they are not good for your health. You are also less likely to do well on a paper or exam if you are tired, especially if you need to write out well thought-out ideas. Embrace the art of napping.
11. Pet a puppy.
Puppies are so cute and will definitely help cheer you up. Some universities even bring in puppies for the purpose of helping students destress, so be on the lookout for balls of cuteness and fur!
