You know finals week is just around the corner at UP when you get emails about course evaluations, every corner of the library is packed with students, and sleep seems to be a thing of the past. It can be hard to focus during this time, because our minds are overwhelmed and overstimulated. Now is the time where we reflect on how the year went, and we may be dealing with feelings of regret if we focus on how we could have done things differently. Not only are we dealing with everything that happened over the whole year, we also tend to think about what the summer will bring us in terms of internships, family vacations, and different social dynamics as college friends disperse to their various hometowns. As we reflect on the past and future, it can be really difficult to stay present and focus on how best to get through the last days of school. I have compiled a list of things you can do that will be a realistic way of helping you finish the year strong.
1. Don’t play the comparison game
Comparing yourself to your friends or classmates is an unhelpful mind game. Remember that you have made it to this point in the year, which means you do have the tools to do college. A common phenomena that lends to comparisons is when someone brags, “I didn’t study at all for this test!” While it is possible they are telling the truth, it is unlikely to not study for a test and do well on it. Even if you are not comparing yourself to others, you still may compare yourself to past versions of you: maybe how your GPA or friendships compared to freshman year of college, or even to your lives in high school. This is an easy comparison for me, as each year of college has been radically different. It may be impossible not to compare each year of college, which is okay, if you do it in a healthy way. Try thinking of experiences in terms of learning experiences, and remember that you can’t change the past, but you can control the future.
2. Prioritize sleep
We all know that sleep is important. In college, a full night’s sleep is one of the many healthy practices that tends to slip by the wayside. While you may strive to hit the pillow as soon as possible, anxious thoughts can keep you tossing and turning all night. What do you do then? One strategy I try is to cut back on coffee. Cutting back on caffeinated beverages can be really hard, but replacing it with a power nap, a healthy snack, a glass of water, or a trip to the gym can give you a burst of energy.
3. Reduce time spent on social media
I love social media: Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram. It’s easier said than done to avoid social media when I have a phone on me all day long and can check these apps. However, if you refer to #1, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram lends to comparing yourself to others. People only post their best and happiest moments on these apps. Social media does not represent the full range of human emotion and experience, so it is unfair to judge ourselves based on fleeting moments and filters.
4. Plan something fun every week
I like to plan something for midway through the week to keep me motivated. Last week was particularly stressful for me, so my friend and I agreed to celebrate turning in our papers on Thursday with a quick J’mocha milkshake outing. I was able to concentrate on my week a lot better knowing I had something special planned. Yes, you can reward yourself on a random Thursday!
5. Give yourself some time to think about your summer or reflect on your year
It’s natural at this time of year to start packing, cleaning your sheets, and figuring out what to box up and keep in storage as well as what to send home. At this point in the year, you’ll want to follow up with summer internships to set up an interview. Your college friends may want to coordinate their summer schedules with you so you can plan to meet up with them. And of course, you’ll be counting down the days until summer break starts up. Thinking about summer related things are not necessarily bad, but you want to make sure to do it in a way that still allows you time to focus on things you want to get done. Similarly, as a student you will be reflecting on your achievements, failures, and any drama that occurred during the year. As long as you do not ruminate, thinking about the year is healthy and natural. What did you do well? What could you change? Allow yourself some reflection time. Then move on.