| As a senior in a prestigious University on the | | | | anybody stress out. The pressure schools put on |
| West Coast, I know first hand how hard it is to | | | | students to perform well during these situations |
| make it through finals week. The hours and hours | | | | also increase mental stress levels. It is very |
| of studying plus the hours and hours of tests | | | | important that you take care of your mental |
| make for a miserable and highly stressful time | | | | stress before it takes care of you. There are |
| period. The following are suggestions (that I have | | | | numerous ways to do this however. I have found |
| successfully used) to get you through this | | | | that two seem to work the best for most |
| stressful time. | | | | people. |
| As your time gets more and more pressed during | | | | First of all, most schools have a counseling/grief |
| finals week (as you are studying for your tests), | | | | center with a wide variety of resources. One of |
| the first things to go out are your nutrition, | | | | these resources may include stress reduction |
| adequate rest and exercise. The draw back is | | | | sessions conducted by trained professionals. |
| that these three important aspects of your life | | | | These sessions include visualization techniques, |
| are vital to your success during this stressful time. | | | | how to over come test anxiety, hypnosis (to |
| With out proper nutrition, adequate sleep and | | | | over come stress), meditation, proper breathing |
| physical exercise, your body begins to shut down | | | | techniques, and some suggestions on how to |
| and your performance in/out of the class | | | | reduce stress while you are taking your test. All |
| drastically decreases. You are also more | | | | of these things greatly aid in reducing your mental |
| susceptible to sickness/injury while you are in this | | | | stress during finals week. |
| state. It is very important that you take time out | | | | Finally, the biggest aid in reducing your mental |
| during finals week to accomplish these three | | | | stress is to communicate with people and taking |
| things. You will gain more out of exercising 30 | | | | some time for yourself to clear your mind. While |
| minutes per day, eating healthy snacks/meals and | | | | you communicate with people, you are able to |
| sleeping 8 hours every night than you will using all | | | | channel some of the mental stress out of your |
| of that time to study for tests. When you are | | | | body. Afterwards, you should always take some |
| rested, healthy, and alert, you are better able to | | | | time to meditate and to ponder on positive |
| recall all the information you have learned on the | | | | thoughts by yourself. This allows your mental |
| test subject; as well as you are in a better state | | | | state to relax and focus on other important |
| of mind to logically think through questions. Also, | | | | aspects of your life. It may also be beneficial to |
| while you take care of your physical body, your | | | | seek out inspirational quotes to get you through |
| ability to reduce mental stress increases. | | | | these times. I have found that is an excellent |
| The main form of stress acquired during finals | | | | website with inspirational quotes. Well, Good Luck |
| week is mental stress. Comprehensive tests on | | | | with your tests and know that you are not alone |
| the numerous subjects you have studied for the | | | | in you journey. |
| last couple of months are enough to make | | | | |