With the school year coming to a rapid close and the impending doom of finals week, stress for high school students is about to be at an all-time high. A month ago we watched our college friends suffer through the pain of final exams and we may have even wiped their tears, but now it is our turn. This last week of school is the last chance we have to throw our GPAs a life preserver to keep it from completely sinking and that creates an immense amount of pressure. To relieve stress (or attempt to) here are some tips for finals week to keep you (and hopefully myself) sane:
1. Actually study
This is a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many students don't actually study and end up breaking down the day of finals. And no, this does not mean cram as much information you can into your brain the night before--we all know that doesn't work (and we've all tried), but start a week or two prior to the test and review daily. This makes it less overwhelming and gives you more time to retain information.
2. Get out of the house
Being cooped up in your room for hours trying to study can make you go a little crazy. Personally I have a difficult time focusing at home so I usually head to the library or to Starbucks. A change in environment will prevent loss of focus and will give you an opportunity to get out of the house for a bit. Along with this, try finding some friends or fellow classmates to study with to make it a little more enjoyable.
3. Drink some tea
Anyone that knows me personally can vouch that my go-to advice for anything is "drink some tea" and finals week is no exception. Studies show that green tea can reduce psychological distress by up to 20 percent, so no I am not crazy. Besides, warm tea is comforting and if you cry your tears will mix right in! (Side note: skip caffeinated teas-- extra caffeine has the ability to raise your heart rate which can give the feeling of being more stressed).
4. Take a break
I totally understand the feeling of needing to study for hours on hours the week of finals, but this can have the opposite effect of what is intended. By taking a 10-15 minute break every hour or two, it will give your brain a much needed break. Maybe after each break can be your opportunity to switch which class you're studying for to avoid getting burnt out on one subject and neglecting the others.
I know stress during finals is inevitable, but hopefully these tips help to relieve that a bit. Good luck to my fellow high school students and may we still be sane by the end of the week.
