By: Willy Nichter, Staff Writer
Finals may be an important part of the college experience, but they still tend to make the last few weeks of the semester one of the most stressful times for students. Whether it be cramming for exams or banging out a fifteen-page essay the night before it is due, students can often feel completely overwhelmed by work. However, there are ways to overcome the stress. Here are five things that you can do in order to take a breather, clear your head and just enjoy yourself during the finals season.
- Get some exercise: It is a good thing to do in general, but with studying keeping you cooped up in your room, take some time to get out and work on your body. Go to the Fitness Center if you live on campus, the gym if you do not or simply take some time to workout at home. Some time to get up, stretch out and move around might get you into the right frame of mind to complete those projects.
- Read something fun: You may think that you have had enough reading for a semester, but class reading and pleasure reading are two entirely separate things. Get a book that you like and curl up and read it for an hour or two a day. It is both fun and a good way to distract yourself without needing to leave your dorm/house. Just be careful not to get too caught up!
- Go for a walk: This one is more dependent on the weather, but if it is not too cold out, it can be really helpful. Getting some Vitamin D is pretty important, especially in the winter, so a nice leisurely walk around campus can help give you some energy. Plus, fresh air, a change of scenery and your music of choice can help you refocus, give you some time to contemplate what you need to do next and head back to your work with a clear head and a plan of action.
- Speak with your professors: This has more to do with dealing with finals as opposed to getting away from them, but it is still important. Not only have your professors been there before, but they are the ones who are responsible for creating your finals in the first place. Go and talk to them about your plans, your worries and ask them for advice on how to continue to tackle studying or finishing that project. They might not give you a cheat sheet, but they will definitely have some good insights that can help get you on the right track.
- Talk to your friends: When you are in the middle of finals, it may feel like you are completely alone, but you are not. Everyone else is going through something very similar, especially if you have similar classes. So do not hide yourself in your room and live like a hermit until you get through finals. Go and hang out with friends and just talk. Whether it be basic small talk, heartfelt conversations, or commiseration on how badly your finals have been treating you, getting out and having a conversation is a great way to refocus and unwind.
These are by no means the only ways to relieve stress, and everyone probably has their own ideas on how to get through the most stressful time of the semester. However, these are good starting points to find out what works best for you. It might be a ton of work, but the satisfaction you feel when it’s completed and as good as it can be is what makes it all worth it.
