There is some truth to that widespread stereotype that portrays college students plunging into survival mode to pull over-caffeinated all-nighters and trudging bleary-eyed into that 8 a.m. final, or else taking a 24-hour break on Dead Day to binge on Netflix and avoid mounting obligations.
Sometimes those days are unavoidable. But maybe you’re looking for an alternative. Here are four specific tips from personal experience that are helping me not just survive but thrive during our favorite week of the year.
1. Eat healthy food
A generous helping of Bluebell may help you temporally deal with your sorrows after a bad test, but it’s probably not going to make you more motivated for the next one. I highly recommend eating vegetables (broccoli, spinach, carrots, for example) and fruits (blueberries, strawberries, apples, bananas), and grains like rice, and lean meats like chicken and fish. These will give you will give you more energy and focus than a burger and fries, or even a cup of coffee or a Red Bull.
2. Get your blood flowing
Our bodies are made to be active, not to pore books without moving for hours on end. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, go for a jog, ride your bike, hit the Rec or play ultimate frisbee or basketball. Not only is it fun to move, but it can work wonders in relieving stress and restlessness
3. Be intentional about your breaks
“YES! I typed my essay header and adjusted the font to 12 p. Times New Roman. I think I’ll reward myself with this video of dancing cats!” It’s easy to fall into this. But instead of taking a Facebook break the second you feel bored (which may never go away), consider studying for a focused 30 minutes and then taking an intentional 10-minute break.
4. Make time for prayer or meditation
For many people, including myself, religious faith keeps them centered and purposeful through stressful times like finals. No matter your spiritual outlook, it’s worth taking a step back to examine and contemplate the more transcendent part of finals week – perhaps the blessing that you can be a student in the first place and even the good that may come from your hard work.
That’s all for now. Best of luck, Aggies and BTHO finals!
This article by Grant Vassar originally appeared in Mays Impacts.
