How to De-Stress Your Mind (& Avoid a Breakdown) During Finals Week

Finals week is stressful! Here are a few ways to stay chill this week.

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It’s the most stressful time of the year! Finals week is now upon us and college kids everywhere are cracking open their books and studying for those exams. With everything that is happening during finals week, it is super easy for students to get overwhelmed. So here are a few helpful tips on how to de-stress your mind during finals week.

{RELATED POST: 15 Proven Ways to Destress When It Feels Like the World is Ending}

1. Yoga

When studying, you oftentimes get locked up and sore when sitting in the same place for hours. A great way to get yourself out of a stressful headspace is to move your body. Yoga is perfect for a break from finals, to stretch and to clear your mind, but if you don’t have time for a full yoga class, you can always stretch out a bit at your desk. Here’s a video to help:

4-Minute Neck and Shoulders Stretch at Your Desk | Yoga | Gaiam

After you do a few stretches, I suggest meditating for a few minutes to clear your mind. Then you’ll feel at peace and ready to go back to work again.

2. Hanging Out with Friends

I know, you have to study and have no time! However, studying alone for hours can make you go stir crazy. The best way to take a break is with other people that are going through the same thing as you. I suggest that after studying for a few hours, spend another hour going out to chill with friends. You can complain about finals and talk about plans for winter break — maybe even grab a bite to refuel for another study session.

Related reading: 60 Motivational Quotes to Get You Though Finals Week

3. Listening to Music

After reading notes all day or staring a paper you’re supposed to finish, you can feel as through your brain is melting. And oftentimes you don’t have any interest in what you’re working on — that makes it even harder.

A great way to get yourself in a better mood, even to study a subject you hate, is to listen to your favorite music. You can also turn this into a little reward for yourself. If you’re writing a paper, try and get through 2-3 pages and then reward yourself by listening to your favorite songs for a little bit. This will keep you motivated to get the job done. And then once you’re finished, turn your music all the way up and party!

4. Taking a Nap

With all the studying you have to do, you’re definitely not getting your full eight hours of sleep each night. With a ton of sleep deprivation, you become sluggish and less focused which can affect the way you absorb information and complete tasks.

One of the best things to do when you’re taking a break from studying is to take a nap. Sometimes what you need to really relax your mind is to power down completely. All you need is a 20 to 30 minute nap to regain your energy and get to working again. And once finals are over, you can sleep all you want because you earned it.

5. Eat a Snack

Oftentimes when you’re studying for hours you get irritable and tired. You then turn to drinking tons of coffee or energy drinks to give yourself a boost. This can make you jittery and unable to focus — I bet you’ve been there. Snacks are a good alternative that can help you focus and get you back on track. Some of my favorite snacks to eat when studying are apples with peanut butter, veggies and hummus, and even trail mix. These snacks will help you get focused and give you enough brain power to study all night long.

Related reading: The Best College Gift & Care Package Ideas to Send for Final Exams

How do you relax during finals week?

We all know finals week is the most stressful time of the year for college students. We have projects, exams, and essays due all at once. Let us know in the comments below how you stay chill during finals week.

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