As a student with a chronic illness, I feel the effects of finals season deeply. Both mentally and physically, the few weeks of completing millions of assignments and exams hit me harder than most. Since stress triggers my illness and pain, I have learned that prioritizing self-care during this time is the most important thing I can do for myself. Here, I want to share a few of my favorite ways to reduce stress during finals.
Take a Bath
One of the most fundamental self-care activities is taking a bath, but for me, it just hits different. Not only is it relaxing, but it is one of the most helpful things for my chronic pain. Personally, I take relatively hot baths because the heat of the water helps reduce my pain. Whether or not you are chronically ill, you are likely aware of the calming effects that a bath can produce, but I am here to remind you if you have forgotten about this magic. With or without fancy bath bombs and soaps, a bath can be the antidote to finals stress, no matter what. And if you don’t have a bathtub, sitting at the bottom of a hot shower has always been a trustworthy runner-up option to me.
Prioritize Sleep
You may feel compelled to pull all-nighters to study for every exam and finish every paper, but I cannot stress enough how important sleep is. Especially when you are chronically ill, which often leads to chronic fatigue and pain, taking the adequate amount of time to allow your body to rest is the most important thing you can do. Additionally, your brain will encode the information that you are studying much better when you are getting enough sleep than when you stay up all night. Listening to your body’s cues to rest will benefit you in the long run, so do not let the pressures of finals keep you from fulfilling this basic need.
Treat Yourself
Finally, I suggest making time to treat yourself throughout the final weeks of the term. Do not stay cooped up inside with nothing to bring you joy! Budget in time to treat yourself to a nice lunch or dinner, buy yourself the coffee you’ve been debating on, and spend time with people in your life. Take the time to see friends, even if it only means studying together. Or, if you feel like you can spare a night, go out with your friends, on a date, or simply take yourself to do something fun and non-academic. Keeping my life balanced and my mind off of all of the stressors I have every once in a while can reduce my anxiety and stress levels, which ultimately improves my physical health along the way.