With finals week almost upon us, the stress that it brings has already begun to overwhelm students all across campus. Even though we have been preparing for this all semester, finals week is often the most stressful week of the semester. Are there ways to manage our stress, even though our week is full of taking exams and studying for others?
According to Variations Psychology, there are a number of tried and true methods to both prepare for and be successful taking your final exams. Variations Psychology is a group practice whose main focus is educational psychology. On their website, (variationspsychology.com) you will find ways to help,“college students who just want it to be over.''
Although you can read these steps for yourself, here are a few key points that are worth discussing. One of these is to live one day at a time. Although your week may be full of tests that you need to prepare for early, do not try to cram a week's worth of study into a single day. Focus on what is due first, taking everything one day at a time.
Another vital tip that they provide is to “rethink your ramen.” College students are known to not set aside time to eat a nutritious meal, or really any meal at all. Although it seems much easier to heat up some ramen noodles instead of making a healthier lunch, proper nutrition is required to fuel your brain. Fueling up on sugar and caffeine can actually make a worse crash for students during the last week of the semester.
I believe the last tip is the most crucial is to calendar everything. This is something simple that will drastically transform your finals week. President Eric Bruntmeyer always states that time is the most valuable thing that God gave us and “time management is everything.” President Bruntmeyer firmly believes that simply putting everything that you need to do on your calendar can bring you up to a 4.0 GPA. If you put everything on your calendar, including time to study for each test, then you will feel less stressed. You will also then be able to see what time you can have for yourself, which is also vital to a successful finals week.
Our psychology students see the importance of staying mentally healthy during finals week, and they have offered some tips as well. Paige Jennings, a sophomore psychology major from Andrews, stresses the importance of setting aside time for yourself.
“I think the number one thing students can do to relieve stress during finals week is to take a step back from studying and practice self care,” Jennings said. “There are many ways to practice self care, whether that is through journaling, going on a walk/run, meditating, grabbing a quick coffee, reading, etc. [It can be] anything that makes you feel happy and relieved for a while. Recognize your stress, find healthy ways to manage it, and take care of yourself. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it from other students, your professor, or anyone else.”
During the stress of finals week, mental health can really decline for many people. That is why it is so important to know that HSU counseling services are available for each student. If you need someone to talk to, do not hesitate to reach out. To make an appointment, you can contact them at counseling@hsutx.edu or 325-671-2272.
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