Finals week is approaching, and it is one of the most stressful times of the year. You’ve got five exams, four papers, two group presentations, and you are living off of fries and the free coffee from the dining hall. If you’re like me during finals week, all you care about is getting through it. But if you don’t take care of yourself, you’ll only make your finals week stress much worse. Here are some things to keep in mind while you make your way through finals week.
Get Some Rest
Sleep is one of the most important things that your body needs. Sleeping can help refresh your mind and body, so even if you feel like you want to pull an all-nighter, you probably shouldn’t. If you find that you can’t calm down and get some sleep, there are a couple things you can do. When I can’t fall asleep, I take melatonin. Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone that aids your body in sleep. You can take pills with extra melatonin in them to help you fall asleep, but be aware that your body can build up a tolerance to them, so you shouldn’t be taking them every single night. There are also different noise machines and apps that simulate soothing sounds, like waves, that can help your mind calm down. I use one every night, and I fall asleep pretty quickly when I focus on the sounds.
Take Time to Relax
I know that a lot of students during finals week let their work consume them. They spend every moment doing homework or studying, but this isn’t healthy. Letting your brain take some time to rest from intensive thought can help you work through that writer’s block, or make a difficult concept easier to understand. Schedule some time everyday to let your brain unwind. It doesn’t have to be a long time either. Just a half hour break can leave you refreshed and ready to work again. Load up Netflix, go for a walk, or play some video games. Just be sure to get back to your work eventually.
Eat Healthy
It is so easy during finals week to give up on trying to eat good foods and just have pizza every day. But your body needs those nutrients that come from fruits and vegetables. Eating junk food will only make you sluggish and tired, and it’ll be even harder to get anything done. I know that I struggle with eating right during stressful times, but try to eat something healthy at least once a day.
Be Social
Some students like to hole themselves up in their room or the library during finals week. I find that even when I’m super busy, I want to reach out and talk to people because I don’t want my work to consume me. All of your friends will be going through the same stress as you are, trying to get their final projects and studying done. Support each other through the process. It will make you feel better if you take some time to talk with friends. Or call someone in your family! My mom always knows the right things to say to make me feel better.
Practice Good Hygiene
We all know that feeling when you sit down in class and the person next to you smells downright awful. So don’t be that person! Don’t forgo showering to get in some more study time. Taking the time to shower after a long day can be so relaxing, and can give you a well deserved break. Keeping your body clean will make you feel better about yourself. Your classmates and roommates will thank you if you do.