As you probably know, midterm season has come and gone (at least the majority of it) and with that came a lot of stress. Sometimes for me, midterms feel super overwhelming, as I had to balance studying and classes at the same time, making my nights way longer. But since I’m in my third year of university (time flies), I have a lot of experience when it comes to experimenting with different de-stress tricks. Since finals are coming up soon (oh goodness), I have come up with a little list for you that could lower the amount of mental breakdowns you might have during this coming exam season. Give them a try, you won’t be sorry!
1. Take a Walk
The best way to enjoy this autumn and coming winter weather is to take a little walk and really feel the cool breeze and enjoy the autumn leaves or festive lights. When I feel like my brain is literally fried from studying too much, taking a walk for a little and getting some fresh air always gives me a fresh start before I get back to studying. You could even ask your roommates or your friends to come with you too and take a break together!
2) Bake Some Yummy Goodies!
One of my all time favourite ways to release stress, and make something yummy for when I go back to my studying is… baking. When exam season comes around, I literally bake all the time and my apartment is full of goodies, which benefits not only me, but my roomies too! Baking doesn’t always have to be time consuming or expensive. I’m going to share some of my favourite recipes down below that are easy and don’t need very many ingredients. Happy baking!
3. Stretch Session
When you’re sitting at a desk, writing and typing out all your study notes you may feel your muscles tense and cramp. When that happens, it’s the perfect time to take a break and stretch it out! Stretching really helps blood flow throughout the body, releasing stress and giving your brain a well-deserved break. There are so many different stretches to do, but yoga stretches are my favourite including the oh-so-popular sun salutations. I will give you a couple examples down below to try!
4. Hanging out/Studying with Friends
For me, the best type of break from studying is just talking and joking around with my friends. Since I have a more extroverted personality, I gain more energy from hanging around other people for a while. When I study with friends, I’m able to not only focus on my work but also have people around me when I need to catch up or relax. But, if you are more of an introvert, taking a little time for yourself without any distractions would be a great option for de-stressing.
5. Pamper Yourself!
This is one of the best ways for me to relax after a long day of class and studying. I just throw on some comfy lounging clothes, take a long hot shower and finally do a luxurious facemask! Detoxifying, calming or moisturizing face-masks are best kinds to use when you might be feeling stressed as they clean out all that dirt from your pores, leaving your skin fresh. I always feel my best when my skin is fresh which helps me tackle all those super hectic days of full-on studying.
Bonus Tip: Try painting your nails for a little bit in-between studying as it’s proven to calm the nerves, and it also helps your brain focus on something else other than your studies for a while.
6) Netflix and Chill Time
Sometimes when I have to study for 3 or 4 hours straight I start to feel completely drained and exhausted. By this time, I definitely need a good pick me up. Watching a short episode of Friends (which is only 25 mins) is usually the best way for me to chill out before I go back to studying. You can always add in that special someone too to really make it “Netflix and Chill” time, *wink wink.*
7. Vent it OUT
When I’m really frustrated with school or studying, I usually like to give one of my best friends a quick call and talk to them for a little while. Talking to your friends about what you don’t get or what you need help with can actually be really beneficial. It releases some stress off your chest, while at the same time being able to joke around and laugh. But be careful, we all know we could talk to our best friends for hours, so make sure to keep an eye on the time!
8) Change up your Dinner Routine
One thing that gets me through the day is… FOOD! So, when I plan a really yummy dinner the night before, it is really good motivation to be productive throughout the day. Remember to make sure you’re eating balanced meals, as your brain needs a lot of good nutrients and power to ace those finals! Get creative with your ideas for meals, some of my favourites are stuffed chicken with cheese and a side of some Spanish rice. I also love pulling out the all-time favourite… tacos and quesadillas! They are real crowd pleasers, good luck!
Hopefully some of my tips to de-stress this coming exam season will help you guys out and make you feel more relaxed to do amazing on all your finals!