Finals Stress? More Like Finals Success!

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It’s finally June! This month means 2 things for MLHS – a welcome to the much awaited summer break and… finals season. Finals come in various forms at MLHS, the most common being projects and exams. You’re all most likely in the grind as of now and pushing through your last days of preparation. But along with everything from this past year that you are memorizing right now, make sure you don’t forget this one crucial detail that will ensure your success – take care of your well-being and mental health.

For most, if not all, finals seasons can be a stressful period that at times can have a negative effect on us, a.k.a. burnout.

Luckily, we’ve made a list of a few healthy practices that you can engage in this week to avoid or manage this type of stress:

Create a study schedule and stick with it – Much of finals stress comes from the last minute studying. A way to combat this is to create a study schedule and stick with it. Write down all of your project deadlines and exam dates and create a study schedule that you feel will work best for you to feel prepared.
Take a break and be active – Exercise releases endorphins that help promote a positive mood, increase focus, and help to reduce stress. Whether it’s going for a walk or going to the gym, making time for such activities a few times a week can greatly help to improve your study habits and mood.
Prioritize healthy eating/not skipping meals – While it can be difficult to remember to eat through the stress of finals, evidence suggests that the gut and brain are connected and that eating improves your mood. Try to eat a balanced diet at each meal and rock on with studying!
Get some fresh air – Humans are scientifically connected to nature. Taking away that bond has been proven to create stress and be anxiety inducing. If you don’t have much time in your schedule to get outside, utilize your walk to or from school as an opportunity to soak up the sun and fresh air.
Breathe – While it may seem useless, mindful breathing can immensely help with stress not only while studying, but when taking your exam too! Box breathing has been proven to be one of the most successful stress relieving methods. Here are the 3 steps to follow – 1) Breathe all the way out. Hold your breath for 4 seconds with no air in your lungs. 2) Take a slow, full breath in over a 4 second period. 3) Breathe out slowly and completely for 4 seconds.

We hope that these 5 methods can help reduce your finals stress! Good luck!