Finals seasons is prime-time for a resurgence of all sorts of issues, including mood disorders such as depression. Depression is a much more widespread hindrance to college women than many might think, and while it can be under control during the regular school year, the stress of finals week can often lead to certain symptoms and issues to come back. Here are a few ways to help manage your depression during these trying few weeks.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is one of the number one factors when dealing with mood disorders. While many of my friends can go a few days with only 6 or 7 hours of sleep, I begin to feel upset, sad and weepy at the smallest of urges when I do not get enough sleep. I understand that studying is important, but what use is reading over a study guide once more when your brain is fried and you feel like you might cry when you enter the exam room? Do yourself a favor and get a full night’s rest. An REM cycle is 3 hours, and so try to get sleep in intervals of 3 hours for optimal rest (9 hours is preferable).
Breathe
Stress can also lead to a resurgence of many of depression’s major symptoms. If you feel like you are overwhelmed, stop and breathe. Take 10 or 15 minutes to simply sit, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. It will ultimately help you retain the information you’re studying, and can help hold back many of depression’s symptoms.
Exercise
Endorphins make you happy, and happy people do not fail their midterms (as Elle Woods said, or something like that). Take a half hour and go for a run, or a bike ride. It will clear your head, while still feeling productive about what you’re doing. I recommend not bringing study material with you to the gym so that you can get a full break while still helping out your body. Exercise will also help you feel more rested the next day, so double bonus.
Change Your View
While Clark is my favorite library, after sitting in the mural room for too long my eyes begin to bug out of my head, and my stress levels go through the roof. Don’t study for too long in any one spot. Get up, walk around, stretch out your legs. If your body is cramped and uncomfortable, it will lead to your mind being stressed and constricted.
Make a Timetable
To reduce stress, make a table of studying. Studying one subject for too long can lead to feeling overwhelmed and helpless. If you carve out increments for studying you can make sure that you give all of your classes equal time while still maintaining a low and relatively maintainable stress level.Â