Tips to end the semester without stress

As you look to the final weeks of the semester, this can be a truly overwhelming time. All of the stressors that you have been managing, and staving off, seem to collide. Large papers reach their due date. Final exams are around the corner. Final performances and concerts are programmed. Planning for “what comes next” is in full swing. Here are some thoughts about navigating this stressful time.

Practice moderation. The many difficult and enjoyable aspects of this time of year may lead us to over-do or limit ourselves. We may tend to eat more, or less. We may avoid more. We may spend more money. We may even sleep more. Try to keep to your normal habits, particularly if they have worked for you in the past. Keep
your sleep schedule. Keep your study schedule. Keep moving your body. Maintain your well-being. Practice
some flexibility without totally abandoning the plan you have had throughout the semester.

Be intentional. This may be a time in which you have to make adjustments to accommodate the increase in work or extracurricular activities.

You may be met with difficult decisions about how to spend your time. It is important for you to find balance
and you may have to examine what you are willing to bend on in order to meet the demands of school and life. Weigh out the options and make decisions that align with your values and needs.

Get started. Resist the temptation to avoid the big items. Break them down into smaller, more manageable
commitments. Reconsider how much time you will need to make meaningful progress. A 10 minute practice session is better than none. Study for 30 minutes and take a break. Walk for five5 minutes. With the increase in demands, you may need to set new expectations about what you can commit to or expect from your time.

Use a calendar or schedule. By taking small efforts to plan what you need to do, you may be able to accommodate what you want to do. If you anticipate that an evening will be taken up by a performance, celebration, or study session, you can use other time in your week to work around this commitment.

Lean on your resources. There are a multitude of resources at the ready on-campus to support your success. Utilize The Study. Attend study sessions or reach out to your TA/prof. Consider a group study session. Take care of your health with Health Services or Counseling. Find the study space that works for you. Is it the basement in Alcuin? The booths in O’Connell’s? A table at the Local Blend? Be courageous and ask the question you need answered to increase your success.

Hopefully with this approach you can find the time to enjoy the end of the semester and feel that you have done so successfully. Check out the many opportunities brought to you by the libraries, groups, clubs, Residential Life, Culinary Services, and more that can help you end your semester with success!