With finals week just around the corner, it’s easy to feel the panic kick in. With so much relying on one final test between the end of the semester and winter break, we often see ourselves suffering from a stress overload. However, while this week can be stressful, it can also be made easier by using a few techniques and tricks to give yourself a stress reliever. Below, we have picked our six favorite ways to help destress during the busiest time of the year.
1. Treat Yourself, Holiday style. With finals comes the imminent studying in the library for hours and hours on end. To keep on going on, treat yourself by ordering a specialty drink from your on campus coffee shop for an extra caffeine/sugar boost. A few of my favorites are:
-Peppermint Mocha with coconut milk
-Chai Tea Latte with Almond Milk
-Hot chocolate with a pump of salted caramel
-London Fog with english breakfast tea and almond milk
– Dirty Chai: chai latte with two shots of espresso
2. Sweat it out. With so much to do it is easy for us to tell ourselves we don’t have time to take a break, however, a quick workout can often release endorphins (putting us in a good mood), and allow us to de-stress. Weather it’s a quick run on the treadmill, or an hour workout class, working out will help mitigate the stress immensely and you will find yourself feeling ready to conquer the rest of your work.
3. Stay in. While it is so hard to miss a night out on the weekend, the best thing you can do for your body is rest. By allowing yourself to get in bed early, you can maximize your amount of time to rest and wake up early ready to conquer the day! You can also snuggle up in your bed, watch a christmas movie, and let yourself forget your stressful worries.
4. Go to the beach. It’s so easy to forget that we live literally steps away from it! Playa del Rey is only a five-minute car ride away. Take an hour or two away from your day to relax in the sand & hop in the water. You could even bring some of your homework to do there. Your mind will be cleared and you’ll feel relaxed, ready to jump back into studying when you get back.
5. Have a mini spa night. Put on a facemask. They always help me feel more calm, while they also help my skin – it’s a win/win.
6. Meditate. This is something that can be done anywhere, anytime. By focusing on the breath and clearing the mind, you will instantly feel more relaxed. Try using meditation apps (Headspace is my fav) to guide you along meditations. These can be as short as one minute, or as long as an hour – whatever you like/have time for!