It’s that time of year again: The time of year when you find your dorm littered with empty cans of Red Bull and fast food trash. The time of year when you are hunched over your desk in the middle of the night accompanied by your dimly lit desk lamp, which seems to be the only light in your life. It’s time for final exams.
Whether you are a freshman experiencing finals for the first time or you are a senior, days away from graduation, finals is a stressful time for everyone. The challenges that we face every late December and early May always seem insurmountable.
“The most challenging part about finals is time management,” junior sociology and criminology major, Gabrielle Wasserstein said. “All of the papers and other projects are due around the same time, plus we need to account for actual study time for finals.”
“Keeping all of my things in order is a challenge for me. Since I mostly have papers and projects, I have to have time set aside to do them,” journalism major, Marialena Rago said.
There’s no understating the pressure we are all under during finals week. It may seem as though it’s a week destined for misery and overworked brains, however, it is important that you find healthy ways to cope during finals, even if your pile of work could reach the top of the Empire State Building.
While finding ways to cope during finals week is healthy, you don’t need to necessarily be physically healthy. Sometimes the only way you can find true happiness during study time is driving to the nearest McDonald’s, stuffing large fries down your throat and washing it all down with a chocolate milkshake.
“I absolutely love Taco Bell,” Wasserstein said.
“I love smart popcorn, that is always my go to,” Rago said.
Even though junk food is one strategy to deal with the stress of finals, it’s not the only one. If you happen to be on a diet then there are definitely other alternatives to coping with stress.
“Every half hour or so I do workouts after so many hours of studying,” Sierra Sharratt, dance major, said. “Like sit ups or jumping jacks.”
“I like to get up and walk around outside,” Rago said. “It helps me stay alert and awake.”
Regardless of your preferences, it is imperative that you find ways to relax during finals. If you focus too hard or study too much, then you could potentially set yourself up for disaster. It’s important to take a deep breath and focus on everything you need to do, but also take some time for yourself. No matter what happens, we are just a few days away from the ultimate nirvana of relaxation that is summer vacation.