Handling Exam Stress

This is the time of the semester when it feels like “all study, all the time.”  You’re probably up to your neck in papers and preparation for finals.  You may have pulled a few “all-nighters,” then arrived in class too tired to participate.   You may be wondering how you’re going to get everything done on time. 

Every college student has experienced stress at one time or another.  Did you know that college women report feeling stressed twice as often as college men?  How much of the stress that you are feeling is internal?  How much pressure are you putting on yourself to succeed?  This is a tough one, isn’t it?  You need to realize that the next few weeks are going to be intense.  After that, you’ll have a few weeks to relax and regroup before starting spring semester.  Here are some ways to make it through the next few weeks without losing your cool.

Make a list of everything that you have to do before the last day of finals. 

Once you have completed that list, note the action steps needed to complete each item.  Get out your calendar and add the action steps that you will complete each day.  Update your calendar every day and mark your progress toward completion of each paper, final/test, and/or project.  If you find yourself falling behind, you’ll need to reassess and figure out the best way to make true progress.

Find a quiet place to study.  You may have done this earlier in the semester and continued to use it, or you may study at various places around campus.  Right now, you may want to return to that study spot or find a new one.  Make sure that you find a spot where you won’t be distracted.

During the last few weeks of the semester, you do have to “buckle down” and

study really hard.  At the same time, you want to stay connected to your friends.  So, make sure to include some social time in your calendar, even if it is only 15 – 30 minutes each day.  Perhaps it will be at lunch or dinner in the Fresh Food Market.  Perhaps it will be a late-night run to CookOut (yum!).

We’ve said it before, but we’ll still say it again.  Exercise is really important and is a definite stress reliever.  Take a walk, work out at the Miller Center, or attend a class sponsored by Campus Recreation.

Make sure you get enough sleep.  As you know, the brain is not effective without sleep so those extra few hours of cramming may actually be detrimental to your class performance.  When you are studying and struggling to stay away, take a quick nap. Or, go to sleep and wake up a few hours early to squeeze in some more studying before a test.  And, limit the number of all-nighters you pull.  Your mind and body will thank you!

Take advantage of the free massages offered in the Benson University Center during finals. This year, they will take place from 11am-5pm on Monday, Decembre 12th. You can sign up for your free massage starting today at the Benson Ticket Office!