Spring semester never fails to go by unnervingly slow until we realize everything is due and finals are coming up. We then realize we have no time at all and start running around like headless chickens, trying to figure out how to have enough time to study and work as well as balance social life A.K.A. sleeping in late and buying takeout. As a student, I can say that I most definitely get anxious around this time. It always feels like my schedule is empty until the beginning of April creeps around. Suddenly, I have three babysitting gigs, ten times the school work, registration for classes, and family coming in. It can just feel exceedingly overwhelming - like an endless pile that magically dissipates after the semester is over.
It's important for all of us to spread love as well as positivity and wellness to each other. I want to share with you a few simple ways to keep yourself healthy and in check during this time of high stress and high energy.
My first recommendation is to be present. Focus on everything around you, the moment you're in. Something that sounds so fairly simple can actually be something so vital and yet easily forgotten. Our minds often sway towards the past or the future. If you are somewhere where you cannot work on what you need to, do not worry about it or stress. Instead, focus on what you are doing and who you are with. This will put you at ease and allow your mind to relax when you are doing work later on.
Focus on your breathing. I know this connects to my last point, but our breathing is everything. If you can manage to tune all the business of life out for just a couple minutes and listen to the way you breathe, you will feel so much better. The simplicity of breathing is enough to relax anyone hence why when people panic, the response is usually to "just breathe". Really focus on breathing when you do this exercise though, from the sound of your breath to the way your lungs move.
Plan your days in advance. Plan your days far enough in advance that it won't stress you out. Don't stress over the times for each activity, but rather the order of things you need to get done from most prevalent to the least. Even if it's just a mental note, you won't feel so messy. I do recommend writing it down, like a "to-do" list, just to make sure you remember everything for each day. Don't forget to disperse what you need to get done throughout the week! If you throw more than 4 things you need to get done within each day, you may feel overwhelmed. This is about relaxing in an efficient and beneficial manner, not jam-packing everything into a day. If you do too much at once, you will feel overwhelmed and the quality of work you will be able to put in will be half what you could have done had you given your mind the ability to relax.
The most important piece of advice I can give you would be to sleep enough and have a healthy meal plan. The nutrients we put into our bodies is super important so make sure you are eating healthy and well-balanced meals. There are certain vitamins and minerals found in fruit, vegetables, and protein that can give us great amounts of energy as well as boost your mood. Too much caffeine, A.K.A. the Starbucks coffee you tend to purchase more of during this time of year, can actually make you more tired and you will feel slow and empty. Don't run on coffee… you'll just end up sleeping instead. Make sure you just enough sleep. Not too much, but not too little. Try going to bed early and waking up early, see how that works for you. At the very least, figure out the minimum of hours you may need and sleep that long. If you don't get enough sleep one day, take a nap as long as you know it won't get in the way of any school work or priorities!
Most importantly, remember that you got this. Soon enough, the semester will be over and you can get back into a more relaxing routine - including endless naps. You are not a score on a sheet or a webpage, you are not a deadline. You are a human being and you deserve rest, love, kindness, and care. I am not guaranteeing that everything I have suggested will help, but I want to spread helpful tips that helped me. I really, really hope they work for you or that you find something that works even better.
Good luck with your finals!!
