The weeks following Thanksgiving break always sneak up quickly and are some of the most stressful times of the school year. On-campus study spots and cafes fill with students preparing for the onslaught of exams, final papers and projects, while sleep deprivation, chaos and worry linger until exams are finished.
Although it’s important to finish the semester on a high note, there are many ways to decompress and take a step back from the continuous flow of studying.
Practice the Pomodoro Technique
When it comes to studying and staying at the top of your game, it’s all about balance. The Pomodoro Technique, a time management tool invented by Italian university student Francesco Cirillo, involves choosing an activity to do, setting a timer for 25 to 30 minutes and doing work in that interval. After the timer rings, take five minutes to stretch, go for a bathroom break, check your phone or mentally prepare for what you’ll do next before restarting the timer and the task at hand.
The technique’s efficacy lies in the fact that the timer instills a sense of urgency and productivity while still encouraging breaks in between periods of focus.
Grab food with a friend
Whether it be in the dining hall or at a restaurant, there’s nothing like resetting and taking your mind off the tests or projects on your “plate” by enjoying a meal with a friend. You can vent with them about your packed finals season or discuss your plans for winter break and the new year.
Not only is it therapeutic to commiserate over a meal, but having enough nutrients in your system allows you to feel more motivated to get back to studying afterwards. According to Student Health Services at Florida Atlantic University, during long hours of work and studying, students can feel especially drained, so consuming nutrient-dense foods is crucial to maintaining high energy levels and enhancing focus.
Join in on end-of-semester club activities
Many students are incredibly involved in extracurriculars and sports beyond their studies. Whenever the semester comes to an end, clubs celebrate the activities and achievements of the past few months.
Rather than spending all your daytime (and nighttime) hours inside staring at a computer or reading through key terms, make time for yourself to attend those activities and celebrate your contribution toward the success of your extracurriculars.
Get into the holiday spirit
Just as much as the first half of December is finals season, it is also the holiday season. Boston is home to a wonderful array of events to get anyone out of their exam slump and into a wintry, holiday spirit, including holiday markets, outdoor ice skating, lighting events and installations.
It’s the perfect time to go gift shopping for your loved ones as well. Shops on Newbury Street, Beacon Street or in the North End are great places to find fun items and souvenirs. Target, TJ Maxx and Marshalls also go all-out with sweet holiday deals and decorations.
Whether you’re ice skating or gift shopping, Boston has seen some snow in the last few days. If it does happen to snow as you’re studying, make sure to go out and embrace the flurries falling from the sky and hope that they’ll stick.
Call your parents
Sometimes, all you need is a supportive voice to keep you from going insane as you review the same class concepts over and over again. And the same is true the other way around — parents, many of whose children are on their own for the first time, want to hear what their kids have been up to and how they have been feeling.
Taking some time out of your studies to destress by sharing with your family how you have been doing — or even just to say hi — can help motivate you to finish the last of your work and feel closer to home, even from far away.
Pack and prepare for winter break
Many students have been counting down the days and trying to drown out homesickness as they wrap up their studying and complete their final exams and assignments. One of the best rewards of finishing all your finals is the chance to finally return home for winter break and see your family and hometown friends again.
But that can’t happen until you’ve packed up your clothes and toiletries, as well as any presents or souvenirs you may be bringing home to give to your loved ones for the almost one-month break.
While you’re at it, make sure to check when and what time you’ll be leaving — whether you’re taking the T, commuter rail, Amtrak or catching a flight home.
Even though preparing for winter break can be stressful on its own, it can also be enjoyable to take a step away from studying and figure out how to fit everything into your suitcase, what to bring and what to leave behind.
Finals season will be over before you know it. Remember to rest, and best of luck on all your finals, Huskies!
