The spring semester is coming to a close, and dreaded finals week is looming upon us. It’s so easy to get consumed by the stress of college, especially as deadlines and exams roll around the corner. The season of seemingly endless study sessions and all-nighters is beginning. When faced with the pressure of finals week, it is easy to forget the importance of self-care. Your mental health is equally important as achieving your academic goals.
This time of year is tough, especially when it comes to balancing your academic priorities and personal responsibilities. It seems like there is never enough time to get everything done. However, practicing self-care doesn’t have to get in the way of that! There are so many simple ways to manage and cope with stress. Here are four of my favorite ways to incorporate self-care into my busy schedule, one small change at a time.
1: Try journaling!
Journaling is one of the most accessible ways to practice self-care. Studies show that people who journal— no matter whether they write in a notebook or type on a laptop or phone— experience therapeutic effects. Writing how you feel can really help you process your emotions during finals week. Plus, you don’t have to devote a lot of time to journaling; even five minutes of journaling can make a big difference when managing stress. This is the perfect activity as it allows you to have time to yourself, even with the hectic schedule of finals season. Personally, I found that Pinterest has a lot of good prompt ideas for journaling. I highly urge you to try a couple and see what works best for you! Personally, my favorite way to journal is to jot down the things I am grateful for in the moment. This really helps me ground myself in the present and recollect my overwhelmed thoughts about college. This exercise works to reframe your mindset into a more positive one, which definitely helps a lot during finals week.
2: mindfulness & meditation
Mindfulness meditation is a very effective way to practice self-care. In fact, studies show that meditation reduces cortisol, the stress hormone, in the bloodstream. Mindfulness exercises focus on getting your headspace to the present, effectively clearing your mind. This can be done through deep breathing, coloring, or walking. I find that breathing exercises are the most efficient on a tight schedule. There are easily accessible videos on YouTube that guide you through breathing exercises. I linked a five-minute one below! My favorite thing about meditation is that you can practice it virtually anywhere, at any time. I recommend trying meditation in between study sessions. This can act as a “brain break,” allowing your mind to recharge.
3: get a Self-care sweet treat
Making time for yourself can be as simple as getting your favorite treat for yourself! Unlike my other tips, this isn’t really a specific way to manage stress. However, a little pick-me-up, like a snack or a fun drink, can go a long way in cheering up your overall mood. Personally, I am a big fan of vanilla lattes! Taking little intentional steps to show up for yourself— whether it be as small as making your favorite dessert or buying a coffee — is important.
4: add some Gentle movement into your day
Studies show that exercise can reduce stress and depression. However, it can be really hard to commit an hour to the gym while overwhelmed with finals season. Adding some gentle movement to your day is a great way to practice self-care. There are many different ways that you can accomplish this. For example, adding movement can be as simple as deciding to walk the long way to class or doing some quick stretching in between study sessions.
If your schedule looks a bit more flexible, you can also try out some yoga exercises! Yoga promotes both physical and mental relaxation, which is perfect for relieving the stress of college. Similar to meditation, learning how to practice yoga has become incredibly accessible through the internet. There are tons of beginner classes on YouTube that feature guidance from licensed yoga instructors. Plus, yoga is an incredibly accessible practice since there are endless ways to modify the exercise for your needs. From experience, floor yoga can be pretty painful if you don’t have a mat. However, certain routines only focus on standing poses or seated chair poses, which do not require a mat. Here is an example of a quick, dorm-friendly, no-mat yoga routine to get you started!
Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated
Little steps you take towards managing your stress go a long way. Self-care is for everybody, even stressed college students. Balancing taking care of yourself with academics can be simple, quick, and effective. I hope these self-care ideas inspired you to prioritize your mental health during finals week. No matter how you decide to practice self-care, it is important to always remember to give yourself time to recharge. You got this! Good luck on all your finals!