The month of June during high school ensures warm weather and summertime fun, but it also holds the one thing students dread most in this world – finals. Cramming in study time for a test that could make or break your grade really does put a damper on the happy summer mood, but I have you covered. Here are some tools and tricks to keep you cool, calm, and collected during the weeks leading up to and during the week of finals:
Take a deep breath: Calm down. You can get through this, and you will. Whenever you’re getting a little frazzled over all the work, take a few minutes to clear your mind. Close your eyes, take a couple of deep breaths, and forget about your work for a little bit. When you open your eyes, you’ll be able to concentrate better on what you’re working on.
“Just thinking about finals gives me anxiety, so whenever I study, I do some breathing exercises and don’t let the fear of failing stop me from acing these tests,” says junior Matthew Skibniewski.
Take a bath: Lying in a nice warm bath will make all the stress slip away. Make it fun and light some of your favorite candles. Lush makes bath bombs for a reason! Use one and I promise you’ll think taking baths are the coolest, most relaxing way of getting clean. Afterwards, you’ll feel refreshed and without a care in the world.
Watch your favorite movie: Odds are you’ve seen it a million times already, but what’s one more going to hurt? Watching your favorite movie will take your mind off of finals and studying for two hours. I don’t suggest you watch your movie of choice on Netflix though, because it is a life-sucking vortex that lures you into watching one innocent movie after the next. Before you know it, you’ve watched every season of “The Office” within a 24 hour period. That is not relaxing; that is procrastinating.
Listen to music: Whether you’re listening to Jay Z or One Direction, music can instantly change anyone’s mood. Even while you’re studying, pop in some headphones and turn on your favorite band, but try not to get too into your rocking out.
“Listening to music is the only thing I can really do while studying without getting distracted, especially around the week of finals,” says sophomore Angela Campanaro.
Get a good night’s sleep: Getting enough sleep is extremely important every day, but especially around finals season. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep on the nights before your exams to ensure that you will not resemble a zombie in the morning.
Yoga is man’s best friend: Schedule a class or have a little DIY session in the comfort of your home. Yoga centers can also offer a great workout. If you do do it at home, make sure you have enough space, and use the internet to gain knowledge on the best techniques.
Take a nap: Naps are not just for preschoolers, so slap your head onto a pillow and take one. If you didn’t get enough sleep the night before, napping will help you gain back the hours you missed. Make sure to set an alarm to when you want to wake up though, to make sure you don’t mess up your sleep schedule.
Plan Ahead: Last but not least, make sure to find good places to study, and plan to study at least a couple days before finals to ensure that you won’t be cramming all of it into the night before. Finals may be hard, but that does not mean your life has to be.
What's your final exam stress reliever?
Music
Food
Exercise
Meditation
Other
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