It’s that time again ladies, finals season. While the outside world is bustling in preparation for Christmas, we are holed up cramming for tests, projects, and presentations. I know that we are dying a bit inside, but we will pull through! So in that spirit, here’s some self care ideas for finals season, and maybe even afterwards.
- Get your favorite drink
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While I don’t agree with retail therapy as a coping mechanism or self care, sometimes getting your favorite beverage help you pull through an all-nighter. This is especially true before your project is due. For me, whenever I get too stressed (or a mental breakdown decides to visit me) I’ll get myself some boba. There’s enough caffeine in it to wake me up for work, but also allows me to sleep. Also it’s pretty filling for six bucks, so who’s there real winner here? Me, obviously.
- Take a nice shower
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Taking long showers is underrated. What I like to do is light a few candles and play a few of my favorite songs. It allows me to relax and put my bad thoughts away. The time you spend cleansing yourself doesn’t have to be just routine, it can be self care too. Sometimes I decide to keep up with routine hygiene by shaving. Smooth legs really boost my overall confidence, and finals isn’t gonna change that.
If you’re having a particularly rough day, the shower is also here for you. It can be a good place to release pent up stress. The shower is perfect autotune for tone deaf people like me. Also, my shower bottles clearly think I’m winning the argument in my head. Clearly, it’s a win win situation. What do you think?
- Don’t forget your skincare routine
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When I get too stressed or tired, sometimes I skimp on my skincare routine. More recently I’ve stopped doing that. Why? The time you do your skincare routine can be considered a “break” from working. That mentality is a good thing, because you’re taking a break from work to take care of yourself. This is true even if it’s part of your daily routine. So yeah, slap on that face mask. It gud for u.
- Write in your journal
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I’m not assuming that everyone here has a journal, or even a planner for the matter. But getting your emotions out, and reflecting on your day is good for you. Writing out all your feelings can help address stressing factors in your day. At its best, journaling can clear your thoughts and allow you to focus on the work you need to do. If you don’t like journaling, talk to a friend or someone else you trust.
- Plan it out
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If there is one week you should be planning out your work, it’s finals week. Figure out what times you want to take a break, and when to study each subject. And if one topic is stumping you, switch to another one and come back to it later. Reach out to your professors if you need help. More often than not they want to help you succeed. (I know they seem scary, honestly some of my professors scare me too, but just asking will usually get you on the right track.) Write down the dates for all your project deadlines and final exams and plan when you want to study each topic. Don’t get stuck with all nighters every day, just plan out your work.