You just finished up that really important class for the day. Then, you have to go to work for the next two hours. After work, you’ll have to drive home and on top of that, juggle a fully packed schedule for the next day.
At SJSU, the weeks leading up to finals creep up on you when you least expect it, life feels like a never-ending course running towards restlessness and pressure to prepare for the time ahead. Around campus, student resources such as the Writing Center, the Accessible Education Center (AEC), and other campus resources are overflowing with students seeking guidance to finish the semester strong.
As a college student, taking finals and battling through the last three weeks of the semester can easily be discouraging from feeling overwhelmed. Multitasking becomes prevalent as we typically juggle working through studies, jobs, and personal lives.
It is scientifically proven how poorly developed study and care habits have correlated to higher levels of exam stress and a lower academic performance. As part of a passion project to understand my own poor habits, I came to the conclusion that it takes not one, but multiple techniques to combat exam anxiety and improve health before studying.
What is stillfulness, anyway, and why does it matter?
Stillfulness is not actually a term that has been coined nor is it named by medical professionals. Stillfulness combines techniques that practice reflection, self-care, and exercises to develop better habits. As we develop in our learning, a pitfall slowly develops as we grow older and those good study habits can easily be forgotten as we become swept up in more and more responsibilities.
Stillfulness combats that by tackling a combination of bad habits. For example, instead of staying focused on listening to the doubts that might be expressed from our internal critic, practicing affirmations can become a great habit promoting motivation boosts and improving one’s self of view.
Rather than only planning for your academic future or areas of growth, look back on yourself as a whole and give yourself credit for your achievements. Remember that academics is not the end all do all. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself is to be conscientious of your health. You matter, and your personal health and wellbeing state is the key to reaching your best results.
What are some (good) habits you use to combat stress? Let us know @HerCampusSJSU.