Dealing With The Stress of College Finals (8 Tips)

By Amanda Brown

Finals week always seems to sneak up on you. One second you’re sailing smoothly through the term, next thing you know it’s finals week and you’re drowning in term papers, projects, and exams. Some stress is inevitable during finals week, but there are ways to make stress manageable. Here are a few tips to help you deal with the stress of finals and stay sane during this hectic time.

1. Beat the stress by being prepared

If you’re prepared, you have nothing to stress over.

Stay on top of your work by doing little chunks of studying each day rather than cramming at the end of the term. Befriend the study guide your teacher gave you. Take detailed notes of material in the study guide as you read and work through homework. Quiz yourself at the end of each week so by the time finals roll around, you’ve already laid down the foundation of knowledge you will need to do well on exams. If you can swing it, being well prepared is the best way to cut down on the stress of finals week.

2. Stay organized

With so much on your to-do list, the last thing you need is to have to dig through piles of papers to find what you’re looking for. Simply getting rid of clutter clears out a lot of the chaos that accompanies finals week.

Take 20 minutes to organize your study space. Go through your backpack, folders, and notebooks, removing anything that doesn’t belong there.

3. Come up with a game plan

One of the most stressful aspects of finals week comes from knowing you have a lot to do, but not knowing where to start.

Coming up with a game plan leaves no room to stress about what you need to work on and when you’re going to start. Figure out what needs to get done and how much time you have to do it. From there break down big assignments into a series of small tasks and schedule time each day to work on them.

4. Snag some Zs

Resist pulling all-nighters.

It can be tempting to stay up all night when you feel like you have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time, but this doesn’t help you get ahead. Sacrificing quality shuteye to study hinders your overall performance and elevates your stress levels. Sleep as much as you can throughout the night (aim for 8 hours) and take power naps when you need them. Sleep restores your body and is a powerful stress reduction tool.

5. Get moving

Sometimes turning pages and typing papers is about the only exercise you get during finals week. Exercise is a scientifically proven way to lower stress and improve your overall mood. Take a break from studying to get moving.Go for a hike, a bike ride around the block, go swimming, or play some volleyball. You’ll come back more productive than before.

Go for a hike, a bike ride around the block, go swimming, or play some volleyball. You’ll come back more productive than before.

6. Study outside

Being stuck inside elevates the stress and drudgery of finals week. Take your study session to the park. Fresh air is a natural stress buster.

7. Skip the Oreos

Sugary snacks are a common go-to for coping with stress and fueling study sessions. Sugar actually does the opposite; it fuels the stress hormone cortisol and is counterproductive when you’re trying to get work done. Instead try reaching for actual stress-busting foods like dark chocolate, cashews, oatmeal, berries, and avocados.  

8. Meditate on it

No, really.

Take 10 minutes to check in and tune into your breath. Meditation centers you and makes life feel more manageable.

Meditating clears your mind and puts everything into perspective. After meditating, I’ve found that I’m not as stressed out and it’s easier to focus on studying without getting carried away worrying about due dates and exams. To get started you can search for guided mediations on YouTube, or download a free meditation app like Stop, Breathe & Think or Headspace on your iPhone or Android.

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