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If I make it through this week, I’ll have survived my second year of college. But that’s a pretty big if, considering I have two papers, two exams and two presentations standing in the way of my summer, which begins promptly at 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.
However, should I make it until then (and I’m praying that I do), I’m happy to say that I’ll be on my way to sunny Santa Barbara, California come Saturday morning to spend a week relaxing at home with my family! I can hardly contain my excitement.
But first, I must focus on the task ahead: finishing out my school year strong. And when I say strong, I mean with all A’s. Or at least that’s what I’m aiming for.
And trying to pull out all A’s at the end of the semester is stressful…REALLY stressful. I actually found myself having a little anxiety attack this weekend over the amount of work that I’ve got to get done by Wednesday afternoon, but don’t worry, it wasn’t anything a little exercise couldn’t cure.
And that’s what I wanted to share with you all today, my secret to fighting finals stress: EXERCISING!
I know how easy it is to give in to long nights at the library, binging on delivery pizza and candy bars to get you through finals week. You spend so much time studying and working on final projects that by the time you get home at night, it’s 1 a.m. and you’re way too exhausted to even think about working out.
Trust me, I know the feeling. That was me last year at finals week. But not this time around. This time around, I am committed to eating well and exercising during finals week.
And I want you all to know that exercising, or getting any form of physical activity that you manage during finals week, is one sure fire way to help you manage your stress and stay sane throughout the most chaotic week of a college student’s life.
And when I say any form of physical activity, I meant it. Even you’re holed up in the library all day and going crazy, take a 10-minute break and head outside to take a walk around campus. It’s a great way to clear your head and get your mind off of finals for a few minutes.
I know that I spent the past weekend doing homework and studying. I think I literally spent 10 hours on Saturday doing work and about 9 hours doing the same on Sunday. But come Sunday afternoon, I was going a little stir crazy holed up inside of my apartment (for some reason, I just can’t be productive at the library, so I usually lock myself in my room to get my studying done). That was when I knew it was time for some exercise.
I ventured to the football stadium on campus and ran around there for 30 minutes or so. It was nice to take a break from the boringness of studying the day away, and it really helped me de-stress before getting back to work.
I also found myself running 3 miles later in the night to take my mind off of finals week. I just couldn’t help myself.
But I promise you, exercising is the best cure to fighting finals stress.
So take a hint from me this finals season and spruce your days of studying up with some exercise! A mile run in the morning, 30 minutes of cardio at the gym or even a walk around your neighborhood – it doesn’t matter what you do, just as long as you do it to help keep yourself happy and healthy during one of the most stressful weeks of your life.
How do you fight finals stress? Is it by eating right and exercising right? Share with me your secret! Leave a comment below, email me at sarakaner@hercampus.com or tweet me here. I’d love to hear from you!