With finals week approaching, it’s completely natural to feel overwhelmed. But it’s important to remember to take care of ourselves too. It’s easy to get caught up in studying and forget to breathe or take breaks, but our wellness is just as important as our academic success. Finding a balance between studying and taking care of ourselves is key during this time.
According to UCLA, between 40 and 60 percent of students have significant test anxiety, which can take a toll on performance capabilities.
Finals are stressful but they don’t need to cause distress. I know it’s a cliche, but getting good rest with a healthy diet is extremely important to improve test performance. Staying calm, maintaining good time management, and trying not to procrastinate are also healthy habits to maintain stress levels.
Other things to consider before finals week: connect with friends, find time for hobbies, journal, eat breakfast regularly, and put time aside for yourself.
High school can be difficult, but it yields an education that can open doors to skills and opportunities that may not be available elsewhere. As Benjamin Franklin said, “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
With this in mind, it’s extremely important to ask questions when you get lost in the material. Some teachers can make it difficult to seek help because of uncomfortable environments. But, in my experience, reaching out and building relationships between myself and teachers has helped me feel a little bit better about taking exams.
School isn’t for everyone and that’s perfectly okay. Everyone has different interests and strengths, and it’s important to find what works best for you. Whether you like sports or are interested in clubs, or maybe nothing at all, a common goal can be to gain experiences and skills that will help you succeed in the future. Finals are just a small part of the bigger picture.
