I see you, finals week.
(But I really, really wish I didn’t.)
If you’re a Bobcat babe like me who’s craving the relaxing (as well as unthawing and hopefully umbrella-drying) experience that is Spring Break, but find yourself systematically trekking across campus to Alden in pursuit of decent grades on your finals, this post is for you. I’ve put together quite a list of money-friendly stress savers for your enjoyment between exams and study sessions this Week Eleven.
Let’s start off with some universal tips to prevent brain-frying in the first place. If you’ve heard them before, be patient. (Some ladies need to read these about 5 more times before they will actually try them.)
1. Get some sleep, girl!
Even coke addicts need the occasional nap. Hopefully you are not addicted to any drugs, so a good night of rest will greatly improve your ability to concentrate while studying, retain information, and show that full-of-himself calculus teaching assistant that even a lowly undergrad such as yourself can conquer those double-derivatives. All nighters may be necessary in emergency situations, but admit it, it’s usually easier to study and even fill in your Scantron name bubbles when your head isn’t bobbing.
2. Do it with no hands.
Yes, I’m doing it. The inevitable and overused “exercise decreases stress” reference. But I can tell you from personal experience, collegiettes, it is drilled into our heads so often because it WORKS! Any form of aerobic exercise that increases your heart rate helps. As a runner, I always enjoy a nice long jog down the bike path at the end of the day to get some fresh air, good vibes and an energy boost to keep me going late into the night.
Not an athlete? Go for a nice walk, or get yo’ dance on (hence the name of this tip). That’s right, if you’re like Dev and I, who like our beats fast and our bass down low, you’re in luck. The possibilities are endless. Use the motivation of helping your SB ‘11 bikini bod to look its bangin’ best.
(Click herefor an awesome article about the benefits of exercise and dealing with exam stress, as well as for tips to fit it in your busy schedule.)
3. Say no to sugary snacks…
…and “corny” ones too, because all that corn syrup=sugar. If there’s one thing I learned from my Plants and People class this year (besides check to make sure your classes each fill their intended requirement BEFORE Week 8), its that corn=bad. When you see it in your favorite snack food it’s likely going to be some type of sugar at one point or another in the digestive process. If a corn derivative is a main ingredient in your snack, it’s probably nutritionally wimpy.
For maximum, long lasting energy, drink plenty of water and follow the food guide pyramid on mypyramid.gov. Fruits, veggies and whole grains are your diet’s star players for bringing you the A’s come exam day. No excuses here girls; OU Dining gives has a pretty decent selection of these, as does Café Bibliotech and The Front Room.
Now that we’ve gotten those over with, here are some fun ideas for cheap stress relievers at hOUme:
– Dot Com Diversions: you need a break each hour!
– Wander the web aimlessly during breaks at StumbleUpon
– Get a few laughs in at CollegeHumor
– Need a soundtrack for your studying? Pandora, last.fm, 8tracks, Purevolume, hotnewhiphop, and
YouTubeall let you listen free. Even Fratmusichas a playlist for studying.
– Need I waste a bullet with the plethora of options that are ‘social networking’? You need no reminders
when it comes to this, to be sure.
– Speaking of social networking, if you haven’t already, make a LinkedInaccount. When you get an incredible job one day because of this, you can thank me for suggesting it.
– Print out a free coloring page and go to town. It’ll look cute on your door!
– If you have a Mac, check out the free apps in the App Store. Stress less about being dressed for the weather with Swackett, the only reason I leave my dorm appropriately attired for my first class each morning.
– Map your next run with Nike Plus
– Creep on College Green
– Window-shop online for your warm-weather must haves. Check out Zumiezand Gilly Hicksfor unique looks.
Only at OU:
– Enjoy a live band uptown at Donkey Coffee, or Casa Nueva
– Thinking of Casa makes my mouth water, so I have to suggest sampling a few of their unique,
seasonal, organic salsas for only a few bucks.
– Window shop at one of our few adorable boutiques. Maybe you have a birthday coming up, as do I, and you need to find out of you’re more of a romper or little sundress type of gal this year. You can try on a few pairs of cute rain boots, or look for your next new room accessory. The point is, if you see a store you haven’t been in uptown, check it out!
– Roll down a hill if it’s not too soggy
– Get a random strand of hair tinsel for only $1. I am obsessed with these. Attractions salon has some really interesting textured pieces and The Other Place has a wide variety of colors. Match your friends, your bikini, your backpack, or get your favorite color. It’s pretty exciting.
– Buttress by DeWitt Godfrey is on display at the Ridges through May. If art is your thing, all of the
museums and galleries on campusare free!
– Climb the rock wall, play racquetball, attend a group fitness class, or shoot some hoops at Ping. The outdoor tennis courts are also open and available for free from 8am-dark.
– Learn to kayak at the Aquatic Center Tuesday night. Stop in from 9:30-11:30 for free instruction.
– Support our women’s softball team against Morehead State this Wednesday at 1 and 3pm.
– Read a student publication or a local newspaper like The Post to find out what’s crackin’ on campus and in the Athens area.
These are really just a small sampling of all the possibilities of things to do to stay relaxed while you ride out the roughest week of the toughest quarter of the year.
Do what you enjoy and take some time for yourself each day, and you’ll be calm, cool, and collected.
Stay positive, spring will be here soon!
What do you do to unwind during finals week? Do you know of any fun events or activities going on around Athens this week that I missed?