Self Care and Final Exams
With the end of the semester quickly approaching, students are faced with added stress of final exams and projects. These crucial weeks hold considerable anxiety with the added pressure of assignments demanding time and energy. Intentional self care practices are vital to students’ well-being during this time.
As a student myself, I have broken down some simple and effective ways to add intentional self care into academic life during this time. These tips break down into three categories: study environment, time management, and celebration and reward.
Study Environments:
Study environments play a pivotal role in productivity, which will allow you to efficiently work through your tasks. I have found that one way I can implement self care into my academic routine is by choosing study environments that are easy for me to focus in during the time I have set aside for studying. For example, I have found that I work best when I am surrounded by others who are also being productive, so I choose to work on homework at coffee shops or in libraries. However, some people work best in environments where they are alone or quiet, so they might prefer to study in their rooms or book private rooms in libraries. Experiment with different study environments to learn which places will help you get the most out of your study time.
Time Management
During this busy time, the way you manage your time will have a significant impact on your productivity. The way you manage your time will affect your mental well-being and could make the difference between a healthy mental state or burnout. One way that I have been able to implement time management skills into my academic life is by creating a schedule to manage my time effectively. This type of a schedule could include prioritization of tasks, planned breaks, dedicated study hours, and dedicated socialization. Once you’ve made a schedule, break down your tasks into manageable sections so that you can measure your progress and avoid burnout. Implementing a routine or plan for finals season is crucial to productivity and caring for yourself in an effective way.
Celebration and Reward
Finals are challenging and demand a significant amount of effort and mental energy to complete. As you work through these assignments and exams, remember to acknowledge the hard work you put into each project. Celebrate both the big and little victories, whether you passed an exam or aced a quiz. Reward your achievements with something that makes you happy. Maybe celebrating looks like indulging in your favorite treat, an outing with friends, or taking an evening to yourself. Celebrating and rewarding yourself for your achievements is a great way to be intentional about self care and creating time to relax in this season.
Lauren Allison
Master of Digital Audience Strategy