With final exams underway and the holiday season quickly approaching, college students can’t help but feel stressed and overwhelmed. And while studying seems like the most pressing need right now, it’s important to remember that too much stress can have negative effects on both your mind and body. Unmanaged stress can lead to crankiness, nervousness, stomach aches, and breakouts, among other unpleasant things. Even during finals week, it’s important to allow yourself time to relax. Put down the Starbucks and back away from the textbooks. It’s time to try out some of these tried and true de-stressing activities!
1. Netflix and Chill
This one’s so obvious it has to be first. When school work has got you down, nothing is more comforting than the warm embrace of your couch and the unlimited streaming capabilities of the Internet. And while you’re binge-watching the first season of a brand new show, it’s easy to forget that you have four tests, a presentation, a group project, and two research papers due this week. But I must warn my fellow students to approach this relaxation method with caution, because it’s a TRAP! And it happens to the best of us: You come home and decide to watch one single episode of Grey’s Anatomy, and the next thing you know it’s been 35 hours and you haven’t left your couch and the Dorito crumbs on your sweatshirt are starting to grow some green fuzzy substance. Netflix and kiss your productivity goodbye!
2. A Lighthearted Book
If you’ve been staring at your calc textbook but all you see are tears, it may be time to pick up a novel or “beach read” and give your weary brain a rest. Something lighthearted is probably best during exam week, but if your idea of relaxing is reading War and Peace or Finnegans Wake, then do your thing mama. A reading break is a good choice because once you’re ready to try studying again, it’s easy to transition from your fun book back to your textbook.
3. Get Artsy
It doesn’t matter if you’re the next Michelangelo or if the last time you touched a colored pencil was for your 5th grade book report–a doodle break is good for the soul. This activity is pretty open ended; you could round up all the fruit in your kitchen and paint a still life, or you could put on some tunes and draw whatever comes to mind. Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, dumping your imagination on paper can be a major stress reliever.
4. Clean Your Room
Everyone knows the procrastinator’s creed: “I can’t start my assignment until my room is clean!” Tidying up is not only a great excuse to put off your schoolwork, it’s also a good way to break up your study sesh while still being productive. So when you get to a point where you can’t look at any more flashcards, it’s a good time to step away and empty the dishwasher, organize some drawers, or maybe even pack for the semester break. You give your mind a break from academics, while still completing a task. And maybe that sense of accomplishment will help boost your motivation to get back to studying!
5. Exercise
If a marathon library session has you feeling antsy, it’s a good time to lace up and go for a run. Exercise gets stiff muscles loose and speeds the blood flow bringing oxygen to your brain. And maybe if you run fast enough, your deadlines will never catch up to you!