While I am definitely not an advocate of procrastination or deliberately setting yourself up for failure, I am a HUGE fan of study breaks. It is so important to practice a little self-care with all the stress swirling around you. Productive study breaks are especially crucial during finals: when your mind is incapable of absorbing any more information, or generating another synonym for the same word you’ve been using throughout the entire paper, it’s probably time to take a break. Here are some simple but powerful strategies to brave the last stretch of exams with grace, strength, and positivity.
Go on a walk.
Make it short, make it long, follow a loopy path, or walk straight ahead. The beauty of walking is that you don’t need a purpose or plan: simply walk for the sake of walking, or toward a favorite destination – like a coffee shop or a bookstore – by yourself or with a friend. I love walking down Centennial Trail and spotting the occasional marmot by the river. Sometimes, I’ll treat myself to the Arc, the thrift shop right past Dussault and Kennedy. Regardless of what path you take, walking in Spokane (particularly in this almost-summer weather!) is my favorite way to reinvigorate my mind and body after a long day of studying.
Call a non-college friend or family member.
It’s easy to become immersed in – and overwhelmed by – the infamous “Gonzaga bubble”, in which Zags connect with other Zags through the shared struggle of finals and the summer job hunt. Sometimes, it’s best to forcibly remove yourself from this bubble by calling up a friend or family member who can remind you of the bigger-picture realities beyond academics to gain a little perspective on the overwhelming number of projects, papers, and studying you have to complete. It’s important to embrace and tackle the challenges of college, but equally important to truly live our lives outside of school. Catching up with lifelong friends, family, and other forms of support help to remind us of our value as people, not merely as students and aspiring professionals.
Get creative!
I may be biased given that I’m studying art, but I fully support the notion of art as a type of therapeutic escape for ALL people. Regardless of how un-artistic you say you are, we all have an inner drive to create. Unfortunately, this drive tends to be stifled as we grow older and supposedly “wiser.” Exercising our creativity through the visual arts can enhance other areas of our lives, such as writing and resolving tricky situations with roommates or family members. So pull out your markers, highlighters, Elmer’s glue, whatever: make random doodles, do some watercolor paints outside, or try to draw your friend (this can produce hilarious results).
Get OUTSIDE.
This is easy to do when the Spokane sun is literally pulling you out the door, tempting you to lounge next to Lake Arthur rather than write your philosophy essay. And DO IT. But do so mindfully. Bake in an hour for an outdoor nap, or a nature walk, or a bike ride – and then return to the grind. You can even stay outside and work. Just being outside is a huge mood-booster, and planning outdoor breaks as “chunks” in your schedule helps hold you accountable, particularly if you rope your friends into strategically chunking their time with you.
Plan fun things for the summer.
This can easily turn into a two-hour escapade, so proceed cautiously. However, I have found this to be a fantastic motivator for me when I am in the depths of despair during (or before) finals week. Plan some fun activities with friends or family that you can do in the early stages of summer break, gifting you with a literal “light at the end of the tunnel” once all of your exams, essays, and projects have been completed.
This list is just a short compilation of stress-relieving study breaks that have worked well for me in the past: feel free to mix it up, incorporate different kinds of exercise and creativity (like writing!), and even plan break DAYS instead of time chunks. Ultimately, the challenge is being kind to yourself, and effectively balancing “down-time” while avoiding procrastination (if possible).
Good luck with these final few weeks, enjoy the sun, and give yourselves the study time (and the BREAKS) to succeed with minimal stress!