Finals season is right around the corner, Greyhounds! This can be a stressful time for many students, and it's important to remember to check in with and take time for yourself. Although this can be hard, especially if you're cramming for an exam or dedicating all of your time to studying, your mental health is something that cannot be ignored. Continue reading for a helpful guide on how to balance studying and preparing for final exams and projects with intentionally taking care of your well-being.
- Plan your time wisely: It's easy to get wrapped up in and overwhelmed with all the tasks you have during this time of year. One way to get ahead of this is to use a planner (or other helpful planning tool of your choice) to organize your tasks and plan out how you will get things done. This will help you stay on track, lower the risk of burnout, and avoid procrastination, and you can intentionally plan time for you to practice self-care.
- Practice self-care: Make a list of all the things you love to do to practice self-care. When you are feeling like the stress and anxiety is building up or if you have reached a time of scheduled self-care, take a moment to refer to your list and do one of the things you listed.
- Take regular breaks: It is easy to get wrapped up in studying for hours at a time. Remember to take breaks for yourself, even if it's just for a few minutes. One technique is to set a timer for 30, 45, or 60 minutes and put away all distractions. Dedicate yourself to working for this amount of time, and then set another timer for 5 to 10 minutes to take a break before resetting your work timer. Repeat this until you are done studying for the time being.
- Maintain healthy habits: Make sure you are taking care of all aspects of your wellness. Practice a consistent and healthy sleep schedule. Eat nutritious snacks and meals to fuel your brain and body. Get your body moving, even if it's just a short walk. It's easy to forget these more basic things when you're wrapped up in preparing for finals, so make the effort to keep up with your healthy habits and routines.
- Celebrate small wins: Did you finish a final paper? Did you correctly answer all the questions on a practice test? Did you finish making your flash cards or study guides? Allow yourself to celebrate these small wins by taking a break or rewarding yourself with something meaningful to you.
- Practice mindfulness and gratitude
- Mediate
- Go for a walk
- Take a break from screens
- Journal
- Exercise
- Call or spend time with a friend
- Watch a comfort show or movie
- Do a craft
- Read a book
- Take a shower
- Practice yoga
- Play your favorite music
- Get outdoors
- Take a nap
- Organize your tasks
- Drink water
- Ask for help if you need it