We are headed towards the most dreaded week of the year: finals week. Except for the select few, everyone on campus is stressed out of their mind about the finals they must take in the upcoming days. Whether that’s staying up till the wee hours of the morning studying in Hicks for days leading up to your final or getting no sleep the night before due to cramming, everyone is studying and everyone is stressed. Here are five tips to help you destress during finals week!
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1.) Get dinner or ice cream with friends
Friends are always a great de-stressor. They take your mind off whatever is bothering you and they keep your mind off it. Making the time to get dinner with friends has two great benefits. The first is that you get to see some of the people who make you happiest in the world. I know that whenever I’m stressed and I get dinner with friends, I end up feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle whatever I need to do. The second benefit is that you put food in your body which is fuel to keep you going for however long you plan on studying. Your body will get the proper nutrients it needs instead of whatever take-out you were getting ready to deliver to your room.
2.) Go outside
Though Indiana weather can be temperamental and it’s not 80s and sunny every day, it can still benefit you to go outside and just enjoy nature. If you’ve been huddled at the same desk in Hicks for ten hours, you need to give your body some fresh air. Just taking a nice five-minute walk around campus will do wonders for your stress levels and can even improve your mood. Bonus: if it’s nice enough outside find a place to study outside, trust me doing anything outside is better than doing it inside.
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3.) Take a shower
I know that whenever I’m super stressed, I love taking nice hot showers. There is just something about standing in the hot water that makes life seem easier. I also know that after I’ve been studying for a while my head hurts and I feel fried, a shower  makes both these feelings go away. Once I feel clean and my head does not hurt anymore, I feel ready to get back to studying. Bonus: smelling nice while studying is better than smelling bad. The people at the desks sitting next to you will thank you too!
4.) Watch a 20-minute episode of a show
When you feel as if you have nothing left in your brain, close your books and pull up Netflix. I’m not saying start a new show and procrastinate, I’m saying watch one episode of a series like The Office, Friends, Parks and Rec or How I Met Your Mother that only has 20 minute episodes. These episodes are short and will make you laugh which will make you feel better. It will also help break up your study seshes. Be careful not to get sucked into the show though!
5.) Call your mom
I know that whenever I’m stressed, the first thing I do is call my mom. She’s always the voice of reason and knows how to calm me down. I usually call her after I just spent half my day reviewing the same material and feel as if I’m still going to fail my test but honestly I can call her whenever and she will be there with advice on how to combat my stress. Moms are the best and usually they can distract you from your worries and make you love life again.
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           I know that this time is stressful but I hope everyone survives finals week and is ready for the summer!!! GOOD LUCK!