We’ve all been there: it’s one week away from spring break, you have four midterms, two papers due, and to top it off, your usual weekly homework assignments. You’re starting to get annoyed with the people around you, and you’re just ready to get home and have a nice week off. When school gets stressful, it’s hard to stop yourself from a) crawling into a hole b) stress eating everything in sight or c) looking at your wall and deciding if it’s a good one to punch. College is a lot harder than it’s made out to be, but by keeping your stress levels down, you’ll head home in the spring with your sanity still intact. Here are some tips on how to beat the spring semester stress you’re facing:
1) Open up and talk to your friends. Take it from someone who’s been dealing with the “spring semester blues” the past couple of weeks; sometimes you just need someone to talk to. By the time spring break is approaching, it’s easy for college students to become overwhelmed with stress for midterms, missing their family, and just needing a break from school- no matter how much they love it. Your friends are the people who know you best, so don’t be afraid to vent to them about all of the stress and worries you have. Keeping them bottled up inside won’t do you any good and will only make you even more anxious while you try to study. Also, don’t be afraid to have a good cry in front of them! You shouldn’t feel ashamed; many people cry when they’re overwhelmed- plus, the comfort and reassurance you’ll get from your friends will make you realize how truly amazing they are and that you do have things in your life that balance out that bad midterm grade!
2) Do some homework or studying early so that you can plan a day of relaxation. I know there are plenty of procrastinators out there- myself included- but when it comes down to having a busy week, make sure you set aside some time to relax. I’ve come to realize that writing out all my assignments/tests/homework for the week on a piece of paper marked with each day it’s due, and crossing off as I go, helps me a lot. Every once in a while, you should pick one day- let’s say a Thursday- that maybe you have two readings due, and read them on Sunday or Monday night instead. That way, when Wednesday comes, you can spend the afternoon relaxing. Give yourself a manicure, watch some TV shows, or take a much needed nap after all those all-nighters you pulled. Whatever it is, just make sure you set aside some time for yourself. Or else your schoolwork will consume you.
3) Reward yourself for every task you accomplish. The best way to motivate yourself to finish the massive amount of work you have this semester? Give yourself a reward for everything you finish. Finished your reading assignment? Give yourself some time to go on Facebook. Made flashcards for your test? Go get your favorite food for dinner- Chipotle, Panera, whatever you’re craving. Spent all night studying for your test? Wind down and watch your guilty pleasure TV shows… Yes ladies, you can go watch Dance Moms. Having something to look forward to will help motivate you to buckle down and get your work done quicker while also making you happy at the same time.
4) Get involved in some stress relieving activities. Now I get it that when you have midterms, club meetings, friends to see, and assignments due, it’s hard to find time to do any exercise or activities. I also know from first-hand experience that using being busy as an excuse not to workout is so easy- but, it’s that hour or half hour you spend exercising that could give you a stress free study break. Exercise helps you release your anger, stress, and emotions. As a college student, physical activity seems like the biggest chore on this planet- I find thousands of different ways to justify not going to the gym- but why not go and give your mind some time to absorb what you just studied? If you’re not a fan of the gym, do some yoga- it’s known for relaxing the body and releasing stress.
5) Take a trip off campus. There’s nothing worse than being stuck in your dorm room or apartment for countless days in a row, hiding behind a pile of books. It’s easy to get depressed or fed up when you’re stuck on campus and see the same sights over and over. Taking a trip with your friends for the day will help clear your mind and allow you to spend some time away from the stress in a new atmosphere. Whether it be the mall, a movie, a restaurant, or just walking around in a different town, it’ll be nice to get away from the things that are making you feel so negative.
There’s no way to deny it: spring semester is hard. The fun and excitement of the fall has settled down, and you’re starting to get sick of the people and places around you- not to mention, your teachers think that their class is the most important of all. When everything starts to build up, it’s hard not to get stressed out. By taking some time for yourself and organizing your day with a balanced mix of studying and leisure activities, you’ll be headed towards a more positive mindset and, not to mention, one step closer towards killing it on your tests!