Finals week can be a stressful time for students. Between projects and exams, worries can pile up quickly. Here are some tips and resources that can help balance exams and well-being.
Events
During finals week, there are many places on campus that hold special events or unique study sessions. Finals @ IMU happens during finals week each semester. This is a great way to attend an event to get your mind off exams. Some of the events include therapy dogs, massages, yoga, and meditation. Student Wellness will be hosting a Mindfulness Meditation Event at Danforth Chapel on Wednesday, May 13th. This is an awesome way to dip your toes into meditation in a low-stakes environment. The IMU also provides free coffee, lemonade, and tea all day near the welcome desk. The Stanley Museum of Art hosts Study at the Stanley, where they convert their lobby inro a study lounge with free drinks, snacks, and study supplies.
Study Tips
For some, studying in new places can make it more fun! Some students have done a “study crawl,” and switch up their study spots throughout the day. Craving a cozy space? Try the Cultural Centers! Each one has comfy couches, devoted study areas, free printing, and video games if it’s time for a break. For a calm environment with blankets, fidget toys, and soothing lighting, check out the SDS Lounge in the University Capitol Centre. Want to study amongst some greenery? Check out the Biology Building East Greenhouse to have a sensory study experience among over 150 plant species.
An important thing to keep in mind when studying is to take breaks. The Pomodoro Technique was created in the late 1980s by Francesco Cirillo. The technique has you set a timer for 25 minutes, and at the end of the timer, you can take a 5-minute break. After four intervals, take a longer break, like 15-30 minutes. If 25 minutes is too long or short, feel free to adjust it to whatever works for you! Breaks can look different for everyone. Some like to read a fun book, stretch, grab a drink of water, do something creative, or speak with friends or watch a quick YouTube video. Do what makes sense to you!
Sleep, Nutrition, and Self Care
Before you can take care of your grades, you must take care of yourself. Eating 3 meals a day gives your brain fuel to work. Another way to take care of your health is by getting enough sleep. Most young adults are recommended to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Struggling with getting enough sleep? Check out the Refresh Sleep Program at Student Wellness! Refresh comes in an app and email format, allowing flexibility for students. The Refresh Program is available to students at no extra cost.
When sleep suffers, students may be tempted to consume coffee or energy drinks to get that awake feeling back. The Food and Drug Administration cites that 400 milligrams is “an amount not generally associated with negative effects,” but each person can have a wildly different caffeine sensitivity. Many study areas hand out free coffee or tea during finals, so try to be mindful of how much caffeine you ingest.
Mindfulness and self-affirmation can be a helpful form of self-care. The Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults has almost a dozen free guided meditations on their website. Meditation can be used as a way to re-center yourself during a stressful time, or as a preventative measure against stress. Self-affirmations have been found to improve overall well-being and self worth. For finals week, one could try “my grades do not define me,” or “I am prepared for whatever comes at me.” You can practice self-affirmation by writing them down, repeating them aloud, or setting reminders in your phone at certain times of the day.
Need support with managing stress, sleep, or other wellness concerns, Student Wellness is here. One-on-one appointments are available to students at no additional cost and can help students navigate a variety of concerns. Schedule an appointment here.