It’s finals season! For many students, things like scraping together last-minute extra credit and calculating final grades can take a toll. But even in this stressful time taking care of yourself is really (maybe even especially) important. Burning out during the last stretch is no fun and tends to make you less productive. But sometimes you just don’t have the time (or supplies) to take a bubble bath and do a face mask. So here are 4 self-care ideas that are quick and productive and will hopefully give you the burst of energy that you need to get through your day.
1. Take a cleaning break
This one might not sound super fun, but a clean space can greatly increase productivity. Even if it’s as simple as making your bed, picking up your clothes off the floor, or clearing your desk of clutter, having less clutter around can really help to lift your mood. Maybe even spray a quick burst of air freshener or crack open a window to help to help make your room feel fresher and your head a bit clearer.
2. Sleep + coffee
Sometimes waking up from a nap can leave you feeling groggier than when you first got into bed. But, science shows that drinking a cup of joe before napping for 20 minutes should help you to feel a little bit more energized. That’s because while you shut your eyes, the caffeine works its way through your body so that when you wake up, the coffee has already done its work. Just make sure to set an alarm so that you don’t oversleep.
3. Make sure to eat
Skipping meals is almost never a good thing, but it’s even worse during finals period when you need all of your energy to study. Even if it’s a 10-minute meal, make sure that you’re getting food into your stomach. Plus, you’ll feel less cranky if you’re not hungry, so studying will (hopefully) be a bit less painful.
4. Plan out fun time
Now that most of the bare basics are out of the way, make sure to set aside time for activities that relax you. Whether it’s grabbing a meal with friends, going for a walk, or watching an episode of your latest Netflix binge, it’s important to do something that you personally find to be de-stressing. All work and no play is a really unhealthy combination, so it’s important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally.
I hope you found these ideas helpful. Finals are tough, but so are you. Best of luck everyone!