1. Priorities!
Binge watching your favorite show sounds very tempting, but doing everything that’s in your power to ensure that you get the scores you need is more important.
Some helpful study habits are studying in groups, color-coding notes and asking professors for help during office hours.
2. Keep your mental health in check
The amount of stress finals season comes with is no joke, and it is easy to lose control and let go of your mental health. Make sure you take care of yourself if you begin to feel too overwhelmed.
Take care of yourself by:
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Taking breaks in-between studying.
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Staying active; try going for a walk if fitting in time to go to the gym is too overwhelming.
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Reach out; talk to your friends and family if you need support, there are also resources available such as CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services).
3. Finals can lead to such a heavy amount of stress that your physical health might actually be as affected as your mental health.
Common symptoms associated with stress are breakouts, upset stomach, headaches and trouble sleeping. To help combat these symptoms:
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Take extra care of your skin by doing face masks a couple of times a week and making sure to stay extra hydrated.
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Keeping an eye on your diet. It might be easy to reach for a bag of chips as a snack during study sessions, but the combination of unhealthy food and stress is a recipe for disaster when in comes to creating an upset stomach.
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It’s easier said than done, but try to relax! Try some guided meditation videos on YouTube, go for a walk, spend time outdoors to enjoy the fresh air, and make sure you find time to do things you enjoy such as watching your favorite show, reading a book, hanging out with friends or even just getting some extra sleep to help reduce your stress levels.
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Most importantly, remember that yes, your grades matter and you should work hard, but grades and your self-worth have no correlation.
Some of my favorite face masks that help de-stress my skin. Photo courtesy of author.