By Mitchell Faley, Staff Writer, Emerson College
It’s that time of year again. The weather is getting colder, the days are getting shorter, the food at the DH is getting crappier. Ah, that dreadful air of finals is about. The fun of college is nearly over for 2013 and the workload feels harder than any other part of the year. I’m here to tell you it’s okay to feel the pressure rising and the fun coming to an end (for now), but there are a few very important ways to avoid stress and finish off your semester at Emerson on cloud nine. Staying worry-free during finals can be hard, but keeping a positive mentality, practicing a healthy lifestyle, and simply appreciating the little things can relieve just about any type of anxiety you may be feeling this last week at Emerson.
Let’s talk about keeping a positive mental attitude during these trying times. First off, you have to be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Think about what is within you power to change and what is left up to the Gods and the professors of Emerson. Over-thinking your workload and trying to do everything perfectly, like many Emersonians do, just wastes time and energy. Instead, use this energy to work effectively and be reasonable in what you expect from yourself, and don’t be afraid to make some mistakes. The best way to attain this mind set is to approach your assignments one step at a time. Sometimes when you have so many things to do at once it’s difficult to think you can finish anything, but, when taking your work one piece at a time it, makes it easier to see the big picture of completion. Finding a way to apply your focus on one thing at a time is important because it allows you to only worry about a single assignment at a time and focus on finishing that one task. Finishing something helps to de-stress because it’s one less thing to do and/or worry about and makes you one step closer to being done with everything. Soon enough you will be done with Emerson finals, and the work will fly faster that you can say, “Catch that golden snitch” in a Quidditch match. Even when you take a one-step-at-a-time approach to finals, some things are still difficult to do by yourself. That is why it is crucial to ask for help. Some problems may look a lot worse than they are until you talk to someone about them and get a different perspective. For some people this can be difficult, but lose this attitude and don’t be afraid to ask your friends or peers for help because they are all most likely in the same boat as you, and if you scratch their back they will scratch yours. We often worry needlessly about problems we think are unsolvable, which leads to even more stress. When asking for help and getting it, such support can bring immediate and drastic relief. The most important thing to remember mentally for finals is to stay positive and goal oriented until the end, and don’t forget to take breaks either! That sounds obvious, but people forget, and when you’re stuck in work mode all the time it’s tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel: Winter Break. Even tiny breaks can help, and by losing yourself in something that is not stressful, you can forget about your worries even if just for a few minutes.
Practicing a healthy lifestyle is also essential to reducing stress during finals. Eating the right food, getting plenty of sleep, and exercising are all helpful in staying relaxed and pressure free. Personally during finals, I stick to mostly healthy options to stay sane. Healthy foods like salads, whole grain wraps and sandwiches, lean meats, and plenty of fruit and veggies make me feel better about myself and feel more satisfied with my meals. They also help me have more energy and focus so I can get my work done one step at a time while feeling fit as a fiddle. Eating “bad” foods may seem easier to get and to consume, but they can make it more difficult to focus, especially with sugary foods and greasy foods that make you feel unsatisfied, uneasy, and sluggish. Also, the “right” food doesn’t just always mean eating healthy choices, but also what helps you as an individual relax the most. Having snacks like Oreos and ice cream may not be the healthiest options, but as long as you eat right a fair amount of the time, treating yourself with foods like that this in moderation can be very helpful. Think of taking a break from healthy food with a treat to reward your stomach for your hard work. This food mentality doesn’t work for everyone, but from my experience and what I learned in Food and Nutrition, healthy food is the way to go to stay stress free and focused.
Getting a sufficient amount of sleep every night, as well as naps from time to time, during finals can be the difference between a good time and a stressful time. It may seem like a good idea to pull all-nighters to get the work done, but, speaking from experience, all those do is make you think you’re being smart and efficient. In reality, for most people, anything you do or write after 2 a.m. is not as smart or witty as you think and the subsequent days after an all-nighter are torture. Feeling like shit the whole time just because you got some extra work done is NOT worth it. Make sure to take a nap here and there, even power naps for half an hour to an hour can be really helpful. They recharge your batteries and give you that extra energy boost that you need to get your work done. Some people work better on less sleep, others work better on more, but from my experience with sleeping for the last nineteen years, I know that the more sleep the better, smarter, and more competent I feel.
During finals you may feel like you have absolutely no time to go out and do anything, especially go to the gym or exercise, but a little bit of physical activity can truly help get that stress monkey off your back. Whether you prefer to lift, to use the elliptical machine, or go for a run, any type of work out is important to stay sane for finals. Exercise is a great cleanser for all the stressors on your mind. Being active can boost the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, endorphins, which make you feel tip-top and happy. Exercise can also help you put your focus on your body and distract you from your daily stress. With each moment of physical activity, you can shed your worries and tensions one by one. Soon you will be able to focus on single tasks with exercise, which can translate to focusing on single tasks when doing homework. Exercise can also increase self-confidence, reduce anxiety, and you’ll feel a better sense of control over your body and life. It also improves your sleep, which is often disrupted by stress, anxiety, and a poor overall diet. The energy and optimism you find in working out will help you remain calm, cool, and collected in everything that you do for your finals.
As crucial as a good mentality and a healthy lifestyle is to staying stress free during finals, remembering the little things you can do to stay positive are just as important for your sanity. The little things are different for everyone, but for me it’s just a few things. Whenever I have a lot to do I like to make a to-do list. Having a list of my assignments and chores written out helps me to see what I have on my plate and every time I cross something off I feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I enjoy a nice cup of tea at night while I’m trying to get work done. It helps me relax and focus on the task I have at hand. While working I always enjoy playing music in the background. I especially like listening to instrumental songs so lyrics can’t distract me, and the calming noises and sounds bring me peace, relaxation, and focus. The most important little thing I do is find some time to treat myself and do things that make me happy. For me it’s watching sports, playing video games, doing some writing, or just messing around with my friends. “Me time” is different for everyone, but an absolute necessity to stay stress free during finals. Remember to keep a positive mentality, live a healthy lifestyle, and just enjoy the little things, and you will finish the semester with a stress free Emerson finals weeks.
Mitchell Faley was born in a lab in wrong island New York, blessed with a donk the size of Texas. He is a writing for film and TV sophomore who enjoys the tender touch of a sea otter and long walks on the beach. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
It’s that time of year again. The weather is getting colder, the days are getting shorter, the food at the DH is getting crappier. Ah, that dreadful air of finals is about. The fun of college is nearly over for 2013 and the workload feels harder than any other part of the year. I’m here to tell you it’s okay to feel the pressure rising and the fun coming to an end (for now), but there are a few very important ways to avoid stress and finish off your semester at Emerson on cloud nine. Staying worry-free during finals can be hard, but keeping a positive mentality, practicing a healthy lifestyle, and simply appreciating the little things can relieve just about any type of anxiety you may be feeling this last week at Emerson.
Let’s talk about keeping a positive mental attitude during these trying times. First off, you have to be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Think about what is within you power to change and what is left up to the Gods and the professors of Emerson. Over-thinking your workload and trying to do everything perfectly, like many Emersonians do, just wastes time and energy. Instead, use this energy to work effectively and be reasonable in what you expect from yourself, and don’t be afraid to make some mistakes. The best way to attain this mind set is to approach your assignments one step at a time. Sometimes when you have so many things to do at once it’s difficult to think you can finish anything, but, when taking your work one piece at a time it, makes it easier to see the big picture of completion. Finding a way to apply your focus on one thing at a time is important because it allows you to only worry about a single assignment at a time and focus on finishing that one task. Finishing something helps to de-stress because it’s one less thing to do and/or worry about and makes you one step closer to being done with everything. Soon enough you will be done with Emerson finals, and the work will fly faster that you can say, “Catch that golden snitch” in a Quidditch match. Even when you take a one-step-at-a-time approach to finals, some things are still difficult to do by yourself. That is why it is crucial to ask for help. Some problems may look a lot worse than they are until you talk to someone about them and get a different perspective. For some people this can be difficult, but lose this attitude and don’t be afraid to ask your friends or peers for help because they are all most likely in the same boat as you, and if you scratch their back they will scratch yours. We often worry needlessly about problems we think are unsolvable, which leads to even more stress. When asking for help and getting it, such support can bring immediate and drastic relief. The most important thing to remember mentally for finals is to stay positive and goal oriented until the end, and don’t forget to take breaks either! That sounds obvious, but people forget, and when you’re stuck in work mode all the time it’s tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel: Winter Break. Even tiny breaks can help, and by losing yourself in something that is not stressful, you can forget about your worries even if just for a few minutes.
Practicing a healthy lifestyle is also essential to reducing stress during finals. Eating the right food, getting plenty of sleep, and exercising are all helpful in staying relaxed and pressure free. Personally during finals, I stick to mostly healthy options to stay sane. Healthy foods like salads, whole grain wraps and sandwiches, lean meats, and plenty of fruit and veggies make me feel better about myself and feel more satisfied with my meals. They also help me have more energy and focus so I can get my work done one step at a time while feeling fit as a fiddle. Eating “bad” foods may seem easier to get and to consume, but they can make it more difficult to focus, especially with sugary foods and greasy foods that make you feel unsatisfied, uneasy, and sluggish. Also, the “right” food doesn’t just always mean eating healthy choices, but also what helps you as an individual relax the most. Having snacks like Oreos and ice cream may not be the healthiest options, but as long as you eat right a fair amount of the time, treating yourself with foods like that this in moderation can be very helpful. Think of taking a break from healthy food with a treat to reward your stomach for your hard work. This food mentality doesn’t work for everyone, but from my experience and what I learned in Food and Nutrition, healthy food is the way to go to stay stress free and focused.
Getting a sufficient amount of sleep every night, as well as naps from time to time, during finals can be the difference between a good time and a stressful time. It may seem like a good idea to pull all-nighters to get the work done, but, speaking from experience, all those do is make you think you’re being smart and efficient. In reality, for most people, anything you do or write after 2 a.m. is not as smart or witty as you think and the subsequent days after an all-nighter are torture. Feeling like shit the whole time just because you got some extra work done is NOT worth it. Make sure to take a nap here and there, even power naps for half an hour to an hour can be really helpful. They recharge your batteries and give you that extra energy boost that you need to get your work done. Some people work better on less sleep, others work better on more, but from my experience with sleeping for the last nineteen years, I know that the more sleep the better, smarter, and more competent I feel.
During finals you may feel like you have absolutely no time to go out and do anything, especially go to the gym or exercise, but a little bit of physical activity can truly help get that stress monkey off your back. Whether you prefer to lift, to use the elliptical machine, or go for a run, any type of work out is important to stay sane for finals. Exercise is a great cleanser for all the stressors on your mind. Being active can boost the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, endorphins, which make you feel tip-top and happy. Exercise can also help you put your focus on your body and distract you from your daily stress. With each moment of physical activity, you can shed your worries and tensions one by one. Soon you will be able to focus on single tasks with exercise, which can translate to focusing on single tasks when doing homework. Exercise can also increase self-confidence, reduce anxiety, and you’ll feel a better sense of control over your body and life. It also improves your sleep, which is often disrupted by stress, anxiety, and a poor overall diet. The energy and optimism you find in working out will help you remain calm, cool, and collected in everything that you do for your finals.
As crucial as a good mentality and a healthy lifestyle is to staying stress free during finals, remembering the little things you can do to stay positive are just as important for your sanity. The little things are different for everyone, but for me it’s just a few things. Whenever I have a lot to do I like to make a to-do list. Having a list of my assignments and chores written out helps me to see what I have on my plate and every time I cross something off I feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I enjoy a nice cup of tea at night while I’m trying to get work done. It helps me relax and focus on the task I have at hand. While working I always enjoy playing music in the background. I especially like listening to instrumental songs so lyrics can’t distract me, and the calming noises and sounds bring me peace, relaxation, and focus. The most important little thing I do is find some time to treat myself and do things that make me happy. For me it’s watching sports, playing video games, doing some writing, or just messing around with my friends. “Me time” is different for everyone, but an absolute necessity to stay stress free during finals. Remember to keep a positive mentality, live a healthy lifestyle, and just enjoy the little things, and you will finish the semester with a stress free Emerson finals weeks.
Mitchell Faley was born in a lab in wrong island New York, blessed with a donk the size of Texas. He is a writing for film and TV sophomore who enjoys the tender touch of a sea otter and long walks on the beach. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.