With finals luring closer and closer it’s hard to NOT stress out over how you’re going to find time to fit studying for each exam, let alone stressing over how well you’ll actually do on them. It can be hard to find time to relax during this busy exam season. Luckily for you, I’ve compiled a list of 12 ways to relax even when you’re pressed for time!
1. Get enough sleep
This may seem like an obvious one, but there’s a reason this tip is top on the list. When it comes to doing your best a sufficient amount of sleep is absolutely essential. Don’t get yourself caught up thinking that staying up till 3 am staring at your books will help you. It won’t. A well-rested night will!
2. Prioritize
It’s easy to want to do the simple tasks first and save the dreaded ones for last. Resist this urge! Make a list of to-do’s and order them from most important to least important. By getting the hard tasks out of the way, you’ll save yourself a lot of worry. Writing your tasks down also makes it easier to see how much you need to accomplish by your deadline.
3. Drink tea
Being an avid coffee drinker myself, it’s hard for me to admit that coffee will only get you so far. Tea, especially herbal tea, still provides the hot, comforting feeling of coffee, but it won’t make you dehydrated and jittery.
4. Write a worry list.
If you find yourself stressing a lot, a good idea is to write a list of all your worries and take ten minutes out of your day to have a designated “worry-time”. Whenever you find yourself thinking about things that stress you out, write it down and save it for later – postponing your worries will actually make it less worrying when you sit down and have time to think about them in peace and quiet.
5. Listen to music
If you’re the type to study with music, go for some that doesn’t have lyrics, or music in a foreign language – this will prevent you from getting distracted by the song. The music will also boost your mood and keep you happy, something that empty silence will not.
6. Take a break every hour
It’s amazing what a five-minute break can do. You’re not superwoman – you can’t stay focused all the time! Get up from your desk, go outside and take a breather. The change of setting, physical posture and movement will make it easier for you to focus when you sit back down to start studying again. It also gives your brain a chance to relax and process all the information you’ve been reading.
7. Eat well
As tempting as it may be to order in takeout while you’re studying hard, it’s worth it to take a break to cook some healthy food. Not only will you give your mind a much needed break, greens and nutritious food will help you achieve better. I recommend the website http://www.myfridgefood.com/index.php to find some easy recipes – you can just click on which items you have in your fridge and it instantly spits out recipes!
8. Take a bath
Light some candles and relax in a hot bath. Gently scented candles, especially ones with lavender and cedar wood scents have an amazing relaxing effect, while the hot water will relax your muscles. An added bonus to this stress-reliever is that you can’t take your computer in there with you!
9. Catch some rays
If you’re spending most of your time in the gloomy library or study room, stepping outside for a moment to get a little Vitamin D does wonders.
10. Make room for rest
This can be a tough one, but it is one of the most important tips. When you rest, you need to really rest. That means pushing away all work-related things and thoughts, as well as anything to do with technology. Take time to meditate or do yoga – five minutes of stillness will go a lot farther than 30 minutes in front of a TV screen.
11. Go on a walk or run
Any sort of exercise is great for your system right now. Besides the obvious health benefits, exercising will release endorphins, clearing your head and making it easier to focus on all the important studying you need to tackle.
12. Reward yourself
Now, this is not the best overall habit to get into, but during stressful exam season you could use a little pat on the back! Reward yourself with a piece of chocolate, little gifts, or a break whenever you finish a daunting task.