The long, overdue semester is coming to a close, and the dark, gloomy finals week is upon us. Most of us are calmly drowning in piles of work and basking in all of our procrastination glory. Everytime you think about winter break, you can’t even fully enjoy the image of yourself doing nothing because right now your academic life is falling apart in front of you. Listen, you’re not alone. Some of us from the Renegade staff have some quick stress buster/self-care tips to help you get through this week with a bang!
Fanta - Find a way to stay healthy! While this is easier said than done, there are many ways that this can be accomplished. During finals week it’s easy to fall behind, lose sleep, eat terribly, not work out- which are all things that, when combined with stress, can cause you to become sick. Being sick during finals week will make getting everything done 10x as hard. So whether this means packing healthier snacks and more water in your over-night library bag, or walking to campus instead of taking the bus to get some exercise, find what works best for you and stick with it!
Amariah - Don't feel guilty for taking a break! These grades, these trifling professors and all these finals are not worth you losing your mind over. It’s okay to take an hour or two and relax, watch a show, enjoy your favorite meal, or put on some music to turn up, and tune out all your responsibilities. Crying can also help you release a lot of built up tension and stress. You deserve a stable mental health and there’s no way you’ll be able to keep sane if you’re burying your head into the books all the time.
Melissa - When you look good, you feel good and do good! With finals week taking over, it’s easy to forget about your physical appearance. Ladies, take the time to get a mani/pedi. Men, be sure to get a fresh haircut. It’s important to be confident in the material for your final exam, but it’s also important to be confident in yourself both mentally and physically. So don’t be afraid to slay in your best outfits and rock your favorite pair of kicks. Everyday is a slay day!
Rebekah - Take advantage of the free food and activities that the school organizations offer! Whether it’s free pancakes in schine or puppies on the quad, there’s plenty of opportunities to get your mind off your work for a bit.
Asia Lance - Organize your time! If anyone should know how long it’s going to take you to learn something for a class, it’s you. Instead of overwhelming yourself, take a few minutes before you study to schedule how long you should spend on a subject. Doing this will help you to focus and not get burned out and overwhelmed.
Noahamin - Your major doesn’t define you. If you’re at the point where you’re feeling things are falling apart, remember that….First, you’re not the only one. We all struggling out here and nobody really has it all together even if they portray it like that. Second, at the end of the day all you can is your best and that’s what matters. Make sure you’re getting enough rest because 4 hours of sleep and a couple of espresso shots aren’t enough. Set the mood, making a positive playlist always helps in setting up your mind to accomplish work (this is for people who can do hw and play music at the same time, disregard if this ain’t you). Count your blessings. Stop counting how much shit you have to do and remind yourself of the things you’re actually blessed with (ex. You are alive, you woke up today that counts for something!)
Diasia - Major Key Alert: Gum, water and snacks give you energy and make you feel good when you're studying! Also, remember to take breaks for maximum productivity. The best way to optimize study time is to study hard for 20-30 minutes and then take short breaks in between. Don’t try to do work for hours straight, because that can leave you completely drained. Also, please sleep if your body is telling you that it needs rest. Taking a 15 min nap can make a huge difference! If you’re having trouble figuring out how to organize your content for an exam, make a study guide a day or two before. And then just review the guide leading up to the exam. Even forming a study group and going to office hours can be helpful as well. Most importantly, stay encouraged and believe that you can do anything! Stay focused and stay prayered up. This is the last stretch!! Good luck *sending love and good vibes*
Cameron - Envision the end goal! Stay focused on what you will achieve once finals are finished. All of the stress you endure during this time won’t last forever. Set small goals to accomplish throughout your studying and reward yourself. Study for 3 hours then reward yourself with a coffee break or get yourself a pint of ice cream. Whatever your favorite treat is, take the time to indulge! Make sure you keep your eye on the prize and take on finals week with the mindset that you have already won!
Coreen - NEVER pull an allnighter! Your body needs sleeps, even if it’s just 3 hours, give your body a chance to rest and give your brain an opportunity to process all that information you’ve been studying. If you have an overwhelming final paper that you can’t seem to start, try gathering all your sources and making an outline with all your ideas and questions regarding the paper. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just a way to gather all your materials and get all your ideas out so that you can begin to at least feel like you are making progress towards the paper. And lastly, pray and don’t forget to take deep breaths and tell yourself you’ve got thissss!
Study hard but take care of yourself first. The Renegade staff would like to wish everyone a successful close to their semester and a Happy Holidays!