We are so close to summer we can almost taste it. The beach, the sun, the tans, it’s calling all of our names. But, before we can fully dive into the season of joy, we have to take our final tests. Unfortunately, this also requires coffee, all night study sessions, coffee, your face breaking out from stress, coffee, mental breakdowns in Capen, and did I mention coffee yet? Luckily, I have some simple techniques that will help cure this pre summer stress that we are all beginning to feel.
1. Past 3 in the afternoon, try switching from coffee to tea. Certain teas are caffeinated and can help you stay awake just the same as coffee, without the jitters that coffee gives you. It also helps settle you stomach and isn’t a diarrheic, so no crazy bathroom breaks in the middle of you practice test.
2. Change your playlist. Studies at universities like, USC and Duke, show that if you listen to classical soft music while studying you will be able to preform well on quizzes, lessen anxiety, and concentrate on the material in front of you better. So, as good as the new Kendrick Lamar album is, it’ll just have to wait till after studying. Damn.
3. Yoga time ladies. Everyone already knows how great yoga is but I’m just going to preach it again, and from my own experiences, it really does work. Yoga before bed can help relax your mind and muscles making you have a better more rested sleep so you will be able to conquer the next day. Even, if you do it once a week it will make you feel better about you self and we all could use a boost during test time.
4. Mediation Clear you mind, take a breath. If you have a cluttered mind you won’t be able to retain any more information and it will all get lost before test day. Meditate for five minutes or for an hour, no matter what it can’t hurt to try when you’re that stressed.
5. Watch an angry movie Some times the only thing to do to get out you frustration is to just watch a movie with some gore. So throw on 300, Terminator, or Saw and just let the people on the screen take out the frustration that you are feeling.
So there you have it, five simple tricks that will help you get throw the test time at UB. But, the best thing about end of semester tests is that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and it’s called summertime.