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As we all wait patiently for our favorite Holiday Season, we are faced with the looming reality of finals week. Winter break seems so close and yet so very far away. Some resulting (and sadly common) stress symptoms you may experience include: crying (often while eating fistfuls of Cheez-Its), involuntary eye twitching, and scrawling “All Work No Play Makes (Insert Your Name Here) A Dull Boy/Girl” on your dorm room walls. Here are some tips to avoid these and other pesky signs of stress!
Play calming music. We know it sounds obvious, but people tend to forget just how much the right music can brighten your mood. Here are some calm, but uplifting songs that will allow you to take a deep breath and relax!
Help Yourself by Sad Brad Smith
Runaway by The National
Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros
Clean Slate by M. Ward
January Hymn by The Decemberists
Elephant Gun by Beirut
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Beware Study Distractions! Even the most studious of us are victim to these distractions during finals.
The Allure of the Internet
Tips: try downloading the app “Self Control.” It blocks any website for up to a day so that you can’t be distracted.
Chatty Study Buddies
Tips: Kindly explain to friends that you work better alone (they’ll understand). If they don’t, you might need a white lie to get out of studying with them, but you didn’t hear it from us!
Cramming
Tips: make a schedule where you study periodically for shorter amounts of times. This process will help you retain more information and better resonate in your memory.
Being Unhealthy, including eating poorly, little sleep, and no exercise
Tips: Oftentimes this is what people sacrifice first when they are stressed. Do not fall into that category! Your physical health directly affects your mental health, which dictates your performance on your finals.
Study Spots. After you have taken the precautions of these distractions you then have to decide where to study. Here is our list of best under-the-radar study spots!
Third floor of Case
There are two big tables at either side of the hallway with computers, and a large table—perfect for studying!
Your Department Lounge
Several majors have lounges in their respective buildings for meetings and student work. We love the foreign language resource center!
Atrium Fireplace
A cozy spot where you can get warm while studying.
Second Floor of Atrium
If you like a little background noise, while still being away from it all, check out the rarely used second floor of Dhall. There are plenty of chairs and a small table where you can work without distractions from people walking by, but still be able to hear all that’s going on down below.
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Set Goals for yourself.
Studying for hours on end can be incredibly draining, both physically and mentally. That’s why it’s helpful to give yourself mini-goals especially during a long study session. For example, eat a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup every two hours of work you do. If you’re not in a sweets mood, take fifteen minutes of free internet time for every hour of work you finish.
Socialize!
During these next weeks most students feel the need to lock themselves in a library study room and live off ramen until their last final. However, all that alone time with just you and your work could be detrimental to your mental health. It’s very important to take some time and remind your friends that you’re still alive. Go get coffee at Burgess, walk downtown, or even talk on the phone if you don’t want to leave your study fortress.
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We bet that when President Obama gets stressed out, he uses these techniques to calm down. Come on, the work that we’re doing is basically just as important as the work he’s doing (we wish). Good luck with finals, collegiettes!