Everyone has just gotten back from thanksgiving break and is starting to realize that it’s finally crunch time. There are only a few weeks left in the semester, (It may be excessive, but I have a countdown widget on my dashboard to give me hope.) and it’s time to show off what you know. Anyhow, unless you’re one of those lucky people who only has essays and take home exams, you’ll have to live through a few finals before you can deck the halls, have a holly jolly Christmas, or whatever it is that you do. In doing so, it’s really easy to get super stressed out, so here are a few tips to keep your cortisol levels low.
1. Have a girl’s night in. Go out to a nice dinner at Plate and Pitchfork to burn up your extra food points. Then, just chill and watch a movie or talk. You’ll wake up the next morning feeling and looking much better than you would if you had gone out and raged, but you’ll still feel like you let off some steam.
2. Go to the gym. So many people neglect working out once they start studying, but this is a terrible idea. Not only does working out keep you looking cute, but it has also been proven to combat stress. A good way to guarantee that you’ll go to the gym is to make plans with a group of friends to go to an exercise class (I recommend spinning or cardio dance). This way you’ll be accountable to a group of people and will more likely have more fun than you would running on your own.
3. Eat chocolate. Don’t get super strict on your diet regimen. Allow yourself to have some foods that make you happy, this will keep you relaxed and performing well. It’s also a known fact that eating a little bit of chocolate every day reduces stress.
4. Get some sleep. You’ll either do it or you won’t. Chances are, your mom has been telling you this one since you were 5. Getting enough sleep makes a huge difference in performance and memory.
5. Realize this isn’t the end of the world. Grades are important, but they aren’t everything. Maintain a balance and remember to take care of yourself and the people around you.
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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Duke chapter.