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Shake it Off: How to Relax During Finals

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Portland chapter.

 

Happy Finals Week, everyone!

I’ll be honest, I didn’t smile while writing that title because there isn’t anything inherently happy about Finals Week besides the prospect of sweet summertime. Finals are crappy enough, but when you have finals that are thirty minutes or an hour apart, you probably feel like your life is about to fall apart. We’ve all been there, and it’s certainly no fun, but there are four things you can do to help you shake things off and get ready for the next final.

Vent to someone.

Someone being a friend or even a stranger. Schedule a sit down with a breathing, semi-functional human being after your final and just talk it out. Talk about what you think you did well on, what you didn’t do too hot on, and what you’re nervous for on the next exam. Talk about everything and you’ll be able to feel the stress of your last final going away. Just be sure to save about 15 minutes to briefly review for your next final and you’ll rock it.

Dance it out, baby.

A thirty minute break might be too short for this one, but if you have an hour, go to your room or house and dance it all out. This is especially effective if you happen to have just had the worst test of your life. The reason that dancing works is simple: no one can be unhappy when they’re dancing. Watching yourself dance like a crazy person will put an instant smile on your face and you’ll feel ten times better. End your dance session with some review for your next test and you’ll be on the road to better days!

Comfort food.

Sometimes eating your emotions is the only solution that works. So heat up some comfort food and indulge in a perfect moment. It will ease the tension and remind you of home. Don’t eat too much, though, because you probably won’t have enough time for a nap!

Smile.

Seriously. Just walk around campus and smile at people. Not only will you help other people who just struggled during their finals, but it will make you feel better too. Also, you’re bound to do even better when you’re able to walk into your next test with a big, goofy smile on your face.

No matter how you choose to cope, just remember that you should be proud of all that you have accomplished! And that summer is right around the corner.

I am studying Organizational Communication with a emphasis in Public Relations at the lovely University of Portland. I grew up in Salem, Oregon, but I absolutely love living in the city. My hobbies are reading, writing (obviously), running, and watching cat videos. And eating. I also love window shopping in the Pearl District, going to the Saturday market, and trying out new restaurants.
Hailing from eastern Washington, Julia attends the University of Portland in Oregon, as a Communication Studies major with an emphasis on Journalism. As a magazine and book junkie, Julia reads everything (and anything) she can get her hands on, especially those passionate on young adult culture and entertainment. A woman that gets stir-crazy easily, Julia has been fortunate to have traveled many summers in a row to foreign countries, including a study abroad course in Austria, Germany, and Great Britain. Since a ripe age, she has grown and cultivated her passion and dream of working for a magazine and spreading awareness as well as happiness through the tips of her fingers. Always finding time for herself, Julia can frequently be found quoting movie lines (most frequently Will Ferrell or Vince Vaughn), having a 90's dance party with her roommates, or rereading "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" for the 40th time.