Stay Stress-Free This Finals Week

The end of the semester is near. Outside, the sun is playing hide-and-seek and slowly tempting us with the warmth of summer. Inside, professors are cramming as much knowledge and assignments as possible into the final days of the semester. As collegiettes, it is easy to get caught up in everything we have to do before packing up the car and leaving for the summer. In case you can’t make it to the de-stress event this week in the Rogalski Center Ballroom, we have put together a few stress relievers that may not require as much time, but will prove very helpful in the upcoming weeks.

• Drink Water – experts say that if you stay hydrated you will think better. This can be as simple as carrying a water bottle with you around campus or having one next to you on the desk as you study.

• Laugh – this is always a good brief distraction that helps to release built up energy or worries. This is not an excuse to go on Pinterest for a long time, but quickly checking the Humor section will not hurt.

• Exercise – we all feel as though we have so much to do that we cannot possibly squeeze in time for exercising. However, experts say that it helps to release ‘feel-good endorphins’ that help you feel rejuvenated, and it will be one more item you can cross off of your huge To Do list.

• Relax your body – this can be something as simple as closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths and temporarily forgetting about everything you have to accomplish. If you have a few minutes, just sitting quietly and relaxing every muscle in your body could make you feel better and ready to go again.

• Take the time to do something you enjoy – this might be geared more towards people who always find themselves busy and stressed out, but it works the same way. When you get busy, you feel as though you do not get to do as much as you used to. So set aside some time one night and do something that you haven’t in awhile, whether it be reading a book, surfing the TV channels or going for a walk, all of these could help you feel as though you are not being buried alive.

• Let it out- this can come in the form of writing, talking, or laughing. Find someone who will listen to you or take a few minutes to journal to help you figure out the problem and work through it. Sometimes, if you are swamped with projects and assignments, the best thing to do is talk to someone about it to help you remember everything you have to do and feel a little better just getting it all out.

Another possible option is to avoid procrastination, but that is not possible with the amount of work we are given in classes today.

Essentially, getting away from everything you have to do temporarily will make you feel significantly better. Whether you try one or all of these, they are guaranteed to take at least a little bit of weight off your shoulders.

*Photo courtesy of blog.onthehub.com