Finals are coming up!

As a nursing student, I had my fair share of panic moments. Exams, pre-requisites, dealing with sick people and on top of that balancing your own life is tough. During my first semester of college, you would find me crawled up into a ball on the floor of my dorm room, crying the ugliest of cries. Eventually, I would muster up the courage to wipe off the tears, adjust my winged eyeliner and go on with my day. No matter what your major is, college is not easy. Here are my tips that have worked for me for the past three years when it comes to dealing with stress.

Tip #1 Organization

Purchase an agenda. Include EVERYTHING from your syllabus. Use different colors to differentiate between exams, projects, quizzes, etc. Then, include personal events such as baptizing your best friend’s child (So excited!). Being prepared lifts a huge weight off your shoulders.

Tip #2 Candle therapy

I love candles. The Eucalyptus Mint candle from Bath and Body Works smells amazing and really calms your study environment. I also love the stress relief lotions and energy lotions for a quick pick me up. You smell good, you feel good.

Tip #3 Meditation

This was hard to adjust to because of the deep breathing part. I always felt like I was about to pass out instead of being relaxed. It does take some practice but it is worth investing your time in. As a beginner, I suggest downloading “Take a break!” or even looking up some quick meditation videos on YouTube. There are all types of videos for anxiety and even energy. It is all about the breathing.

Simple meditation comes down to the following steps:

1. Go to a quiet environment
2. Close your eyes and get comfortable
3. Think of your happy place
4. Place your hand on your stomach and breathe through your stomach (it makes more sense once you do it)
5. Inhale and hold for 4 seconds and exhale for 4 seconds
6. Repeat as needed.

Tip #4 Gabby’s sleep and caffeine elixir

I have different ways of going about this but it is very simple. I drink a cup of coffee while I sit on my couch and try to relax. I usually do this to soft music or a quiet environment is good. Once I finish my coffee, I set my alarm for 20 minutes and choose a soft tone ringtone because nobody wants to wake up with heart attack. I sleep for 20 minutes and it really is a quick pick me up.

Or

If I have a headache (which nursing school does to me all of the time) I take my Advil and take a couple of swigs of water and I sleep for 20 minutes. Then I go to Coffee waves to get a hot mocha. Maybe it’s the chocolate but it always gives me life.

Tip #5 10 minutes of being yourself

Scream into a pillow. Dance around in your room. Sing some Taylor Swift.

Always take a little moment to yourself even if it is between study sessions. These little 10 minute breaks are much needed when you are feeling overwhelmed. It makes you feel a little human and puts some things into perspective. Don’t neglect yourself.

Tip #6 Be a Kanye

YOU are your favorite person in the world. Be a total Kanye; it’s acceptable especially if you don’t have kids. If you do have kids, then be a Kanye when they are in daycare/school. Look out for yourself and be the one to lift your spirits up. You want to run for president? I mean why not.

Tip #7 Talk it out

I personally don’t like to bottle up my feelings inside which is why my best friends are the best thing in the world. Be careful as you don’t want to ruin your reputation and be considered a trash talker. Have that small knit of friends you can complain to about a test. Once I talked to my dog about my upcoming check off and how I was so not prepared for it. It’s not weird I swear.

Tip #8 Surround yourself with the right people

The top two types of people I avoid are ‘Negative Nancy’s’ and people that try to make me feel dumb. Words can and will do some damage. As a busy, college student who is killing it at life, you don’t need that. Of course, be classy and always smile and greet to the people you don’t like but don’t ever feel obligated to stay with them. We only have this epic college experience once (that’s the plan) and you don’t want to look back at it as being stressful because of a person. Only professors can do that! (Kidding) Find the rare humans you like and that don’t make your day suck. They are out there!

Finally, good luck on your finals! Whatever happens, at the end of the day you are one step further than the bum lying on a couch wishing they can improve their lives. Pass or fail, you are working on it. Don’t give up.