There are many mixed emotions with the end of the semester — excitement for a long break filled with home-cooked meals, sleeping in and no homework to worry about. But student must first make it through finals.
Finals week does not have to be as bad as students make it out to be. Jessica Scott, a counselor in the counseling center, said that to have a successful finals week, the best thing to do is to take care of yourself.
“Sleep and eat well. It sounds super basic, and in some ways it is, but doing what you can to get enough rest and to eat in a way that gives your body the nutrients it needs is the foundation to being able to optimally function mentally and emotionally,” Scott said. “I know that I can handle greater degrees of stress if I’m well rested and my body has what it needs.”
Scott said along with eating well and resting, being with people who “breathe life” into you can help you relieve stress.
A successful finals week starts with planning. Stephanie O’Brian, director of Upward Bound, said that during her time in college, she was able to enjoy finals week because she planned out her whole week beforehand.
“If you haven’t already done so, it is imperative to look ahead and see when your finals are,” O’Brian said. “I always planned out my finals week from the Friday of dead week to the moment I packed my car to go home.”
It may seem excessive to plan every moment, O’Brian said that this allowed her to have freedom to spend time with friends.
Above all else, make sure to take time to take a deep breath and be still. Lisa Fuller, student success librarian, said that making a list and crossing things off as you complete them will allow you to feel productive. Fuller said that segmenting time allows her to manage time efficiently.
“Try single-tasking instead of multi-tasking,” Fuller said. “Having music on in the background may help you focus, but TV or scrolling on our phone usually takes more time from us than we realize. I like using a timer and focusing on a project for an hour and then taking a ten-minute break for something more fun.”
Ultimately, what makes finals week less stressful and more successful is what works best for you. Whatever self-care tips and tricks you decide to try out remember to do your best and that your worth does not come from a number or percentage.
