Lifestyle Opinions

By: Alyssa Velasquez

In the past 5 years of my academic journey, I have not met a single colleague who was not stressed about school.

Papers. Exams. Presentations. Internships. More papers. Graduating on time. These deadlines could do no more than stress someone out. We are all just trying to make it.

With midterms approaching, I know most college students are starting to feel the stress of passing the first half of the semester.

Although it is beneficial to have a small amount of stress to motivate you to fulfill your responsibilities, most students are unaware of how to manage their stress effectively.

It is well known that not everyone only has academic responsibilities to handle. Most of us have jobs, kids, and other stressful responsibilities within our everyday lives.

This can take a mental toll on someone, being non-stop, worrying about too much can ultimately lead to a “crash out.”

I know at some point we have all felt like this girl.

Just too many emotions that are all bottled up and suppressed until you explode like a time bomb.

Though there is no way to cure stress. These are three at-home remedies that I use to help de-stress myself during times like midterms and finals.

1. Take time for yourself

I know cramming in all your work to pass your finals is unavoidable. You want to pass. I get it. Don’t forget to take time for yourself. Take an hour out of your day to just relax.

Do yoga. Nap. Stretch. Cook. Watch an episode of your favorite TV show. Scroll on TikTok for 30 minutes and nap for the other 30. However you enjoy your time, as long as it helps de-stress, you need that break. It’s okay to take some time to focus and regroup.

2. Time Management/Planner

Before you start studying, keep a planner or some type of list in a document of what you need to do and each deadline the assignment is due on.

Being careful of your time will help you alleviate some stress and prevent procrastination.

Prioritize the assignments that need to get done first. Choose a method of studying and completing the assignment that works best for you.

For instance, after I write everything down on what I need to do for the week, I seek the assignments that are “easy” and will take me no more than an hour to do, and knock those out of the way first, then I see what is a priority next, and work on the more complex assignments.

Time management is hard. It takes trial and error to see how you use your time, but it’s definitely doable and can help you in many aspects of your life once you get the hang of it.

3. Get enough sleep and eat well

Midterms, Projects, and Finals mean one thing. Late-night study sessions.

I understand this may be challenging to avoid, but you still need sleep to function. Don’t rely on energy drinks or coffee to fuel you up the next day. Maybe you can’t get the 8 hours of sleep that is recommended for everyone, but at least negotiate with yourself and get 6 hours. You are going to need energy for the next day, and if you keep losing sleep it will be hard to retain any new information because you will be so focused on being tired.

I know from experience that I either stress eat during finals or I am so stressed out, I don’t eat at all. Neither is good for you, and both I have been working on. Don’t fall for the cup-of-noodles every night; just because it’s quick and easy doesn’t mean it’s beneficial to your body and brain. You need nutritious food that is going to help fuel you during these extra stressful times.

There are so many different healthy meals you can look up to eat or snack on. Take time to nourish your body during stressful times.

Conclusion

There are many other ways you can help your mind relax for the next couple of weeks throughout the semester. Find what works best for you, just remember where your priorities lie, and remind yourself that you are your biggest priority, and you deserve to give it your all to move closer to getting that degree! Good luck to you all!