The end of the semester is coming. And unfortunately, most dorm rooms don’t come equipped with a nice bathtub to try out the new Lush bath bombs. Even though we all don’t need Lush bath bombs to help us relax, the end of the semester can be overwhelming. There are some ways to help relieve your stress though!
For most of us, the suddenly large workload tends to be one of the biggest stressors. Between studying for finals, writing research papers, and doing big presentations, you’re probably feeling worried and tired. However, it is important to get on top of your work, but I don’t recommend doing it all at once though. In fact, it’s good to plan out when you’re going to do your work ahead of time.
The first step of this is making a list of all of the assignments, exams, and projects you have to do before the end of the semester. Making lists will help you focus on one thing at a time because you won’t be feeling like it’s so hard to keep track of everything you have to do. After this, it’s a good idea to make a tentative schedule that helps you figure out when you want to start each specific assignment. When making your schedule, think about giving yourself at least a few days to do big projects. If we try to do all of our work at once, then the quality of it won’t be as good as it would be if we spread it out more; we are more likely to feel drained and have less attention to detail when we cram it all in at once. So be patient with yourself. Remember that you will get it all done, but need to give yourself time to do your best work.
Moving out can be another big source of stress for a lot of us. I mean, who really likes moving? Packing boxes and cleaning out a dorm room that has someone else’s hair ingrained into your floor is not going to be fun. While I am really looking forward to going home and to being done with classes, I can’t help but wish I could just leave a bunch of this stuff here. Unfortunately, we all have to do it. So here’s what I learned last year: moving out, like studying, requires enough time. Pack up the stuff that you know you won’t need a few days before “move-out day.” This could be extra clothes, last semester’s textbooks, and decorations. When you do this, you shouldn’t be left with too much stuff to pack all in one day.
Another helpful tip is to send some of your stuff home early. If you live nearby, this could mean making a quick trip home or asking your mom if she could come pick up a big bag of clothes. If you live further away, consider taking a bus trip home or mailing a small box of your belongings to your house. No one wants to have to throw stuff away or to make extra trips home on an already-stressful move-out day because everything won’t fit in the car. So start getting organized now while you still have plenty of time!
Overall, the end of the semester is hectic. It’s important to validate that you feel stressed, rather than trying to ignore it, so that you can cope with it best. If you feel like you are having trouble with your stress level, talking to someone can really help you. Friends and Siena’s Counseling Center are great resources. Remember to take good care of yourself. When we are stressed, our immune systems can suffer the consequences, making us more vulnerable to sickness, so it’s important to nourish your body with foods that will act like fuel and to get enough rest and exercise.
Rewarding yourself for your accomplishments can also be a confidence booster during this stressful time. So let yourself take a break from all of the studying and the packing. Enjoy this time with your friends whom you may not get too many opportunities to see over the summer. And let yourself go to some of Siena’s events or for a walk on the beautiful campus. Please know that what you’re dealing with is a challenging, but completely normal part of being a college student. In the end, it will make you stronger and healthier when you learn how to work hard and to take care of yourself at the same time.