With final exams coming up, it is incredibly easy to ball up with blankets to try and cry our stress away. However, a healthier and much more rewarding solution to last-minute studying stress is SELF. CARE.
Let’s face it, as college students we are extremely busy with assignments, deadlines, work, and trying to maintain a social life. It is VERY hard to find time within these busy schedules for ourselves.
Here are five quick and easy self-care tips to consider during your all day final exam studying sessions, or if you just want to give yourself some extra attention!
1. Read a chapter of your favorite book
Reading your favorite book can ease your mind and allow you to focus on some material that doesn’t hurt your brain as much as studying. If you enjoy poetry books, a few inspiring poems can ease your mind and provide you with some motivation to finish your studying!
One chapter is my recommended minimum, but if you have time to read more, that’s great too! Take 30 minutes to an hour to take some quiet time for yourself to read something that you’re actually interested in.
Some recommendations:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Sun and Her Flowers
The Female Persuasion
If you don’t enjoy reading, watching an episode or two of your favorite Netflix show can have the same relaxing effects and allow you to refocus on your studies when you’re finished!
2. A face mask
A good face mask only takes about 10-15 minutes total, and it can be a great way to relax. If you feel your nerves tensing up during studying, take a break to be nice to your skin. This will make your face feel nice, give you that distraction from your studies, and help you feel refreshed afterwards. Or, apply your face mask after you study to help wind down your mind and relax before you go to bed! A face mask is an underrated self-care tip because while it is popular and something that we may put in our carts at the store, we rarely make the time to actually apply them. An aloe-infused face mask will help calm you, charcoal masks will help you fight stress acne, and a hydrating mask will make your skin feel amazing.
3. A quick walk
Going for a walk around campus is a great way to clear your head and center your thoughts. Peeling your eyes away from your laptop or books for a little while and getting some light exercise is a healthy way to take care of yourself! You could also walk on a treadmill for a bit, take a short walk around your hall or if you’re feeling it, run! The physical exercise will make your tired body feel refreshed, and will allow you to get ready to study, start, or end your day. Your friends may also need a quick walk around the block, or you could go solo.
4. A yoga class
I have found that yoga practice eliminates the stress from my day. Many similar testaments from students back up the idea that going to a yoga class, even once a week, is a great self-care method. Yoga classes often last only an hour, and give your body either a good stretch, workout, or both. There are many different types of yoga classes for each level of practice, and even a beginner’s class could work wonders on a stressed out college student. Yoga betters the body and mind. Each class will care for you physically and mentally.
5. A music break
Music is a wonderful self-care method for many people. Listening to your favorite artist, album, or genre can make a student feel happy and take their mind off of the stresses of life. Listening to music does not demand much time, attention, or even a change in location. You can listen to it in your room, on your walk, on a drive, or wherever you feel. Listening to your favorite songs will allow you to feel better, which is truly what self-care does. If you are unable to make time to take care of yourself in other ways, at least put on your favorite playlist, sit back, and enjoy it.
The important thing to remember is that self-care does not have to take hours, or be an everyday occurrence. It’s a great accomplishment to even put forth one or two hours a week for ourselves.
Doing what you can to make even a slight effort to take care of yourself during a stressful time makes all the difference!