Anxiety can overcome the best of us. I’m sure no matter how you handle your mental health, you’ve felt some form of anxiety, i.e., the manic fear, not being able to concentrate, and thoughts rushing through your mind.
As a self-certified, mental health expert and a person that frequently sees the therapist at the university’s Health and Wellness Center, I understand that handling one’s anxiety can be tough. i once had an anxiety attack so bad that I did not show up for class the day of a presentation, and I had to convince my professor to give me a second chance. So, in order to avoid mishaps like mine, follow these tips before and during finals to keep you cool, calm and collected.
1. Eat & Drink Consistently!
Staying hydrated and nourished is the most important part of finals – besides studying. Having a lack of food and water depletes your energy to prepare for finals, and can also spike your anxiety levels.
Try avoiding caffeinated drinks with high sugar content- it’s only going to make you jittery and crash. Choose highly caffeinated teas instead, like oolong and earl grey.
2. Make/Find a Study Playlist.
Doctors of American Psychological Association use music therapy to treat depression and reduce stress. It has been psychologically proven that listening to music will help you stay calm and motivated.
Make a personal playlist or pick something from Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, or any music streaming site or app to keep you engaged. I highly suggest the playlist called “Brain Food” on Spotify.
3. Take Breaks.
REMEMBER: You’re not a machine. Take several quick breaks every now and then to keep your mind flowing and engaged.
4. Do Not Cram. Do Not Procrastinate.
Seriously, don’t do it. Do not leave studying and final projects until the day before, or even worse, the morning of. It’s only going to psych you out and make you panic unnecessarily.
However, if you are going to procrastinate (because you probably still are), then try tricking your mind not to. Write on your calendar that your exam is few days before the actual date. That way you’ll study early before the exam and realize you still have more time to study.
5. Don’t Isolate Yourself.
This is the biggest problem people with anxiety have. Isolating yourself, especially during finals, because you think studying is going to help you is not only unhealthy, but can make your anxiety worse. You need people to lean on during stressful times. Try studying with a group of people that actually want to study. Find the right group of people with the right mindset and bounce ideas off of each other.
6. Visit the Health and Wellness Center.
Remember, no matter what happens, it’s going to be okay. If you need the extra boost and some extra validation, then talk to your school counselor. You may not be the type to visit counselors, but simply talking to someone who can objectively give you advice with a medically sound background, can definitely relieve some extra worries.
In the end, ignore those who say to just “relax and study”. Anxiety and finals is always a horrible combination, and this list might not necessarily help you, but you can always make your own personal list to help you stay calm and focused. Remember: Eat. Drink. Study. Good luck!