It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the final weeks of the semester as you finish writing final papers and cram for all those exams. During periods of stress, it is important to take care of yourself and your body’s basic needs. Here are some tips that can help you keep keep calm and destress during finals.
Get Plenty of Sleep
As tempting as it may be to pull an all-nighter or two in preparation for your exams, studies (like this one from the National Institute of Health) show that getting a good night’s sleep not only reduces stress, but also helps to increase performance on exams. Keeping your sleep schedule as consistent as possible in both duration and timing can actually help your grades!
Pace Yourself
It’s easy to push off studying until the day or two before the exam, but spreading out your studying leads to less stress and better retention of the material. Instead of procrastinating, consider taking the time to make a study schedule. Manage your time wisely, and don’t forget to give yourself some much needed study breaks!
Eat Healthy Meals
When you’re short on time, it is tempting to simply pop something in the microwave or live on snacks. However, your body requires balanced nutrition to work at its best. Taking a few minutes out of your day to eat a balanced meal will do wonders for your attention span and make studying easier!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need professional help managing your stress, the University provides a variety of resources to help you!
U-M Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Campus Mind Works
University Health Service (UHS)
Make sure to take care of yourself, and good luck on finals!
Contributed by Tyler S, Neighborhood Ambassador-Old Fourth Ward