Crystal Smith, Managing Editor
Research from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health revealed that stress is a normal feeling that everyone experiences during specific periods in life. Additional research from Gregoire revealed that as the examination period swiftly approaches, every student whose goal is to achieve exceptional grades may experience some degree of stress or anxiety. Although stress during testing is considered quite normal, there are numerous resources on campus provided for Saint Leo University students to destress.
For starters, one of the many ways that students at Saint Leo can minimize their stress levels and combat any anxiety during exam season is by managing their lifestyle. Managing your lifestyle consists of practical tasks such as preparing an exam study schedule, consuming healthier food products, and sufficient hours of sleep.
A human ecology and evolution professor at Saint Leo, John Emery, said, “When preparing for finals, it is imperative to receive sufficient amounts of sleep.”
Burnout during finals season is also commonly seen amongst students on campus. Emery urges students to try watching films in order to relax before finals.
“One piece of advice that I would give to any student that is trying to avoid burnout when preparing for finals is to try your best to watch a movie in order to be as calm as possible before your examination,” said Emery.
Research from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health also confirmed that healthier foods provide the body with vital nutrients needed to enable the body to function for more extended periods of time. Although fast food or fatty foods may seem more appealing, it is crucial to consume healthier foods during finals.
When creating a study schedule, it is also essential to provide yourself with a period strictly for destressing activities. Some destressing activities that Saint Leo students can partake in are taking a stroll around campus or scheduling time to enjoy classical music at Benedict’s Coffeehouse. Similarly, other destressing activities that students can participate in on our campus are kayaking at Lake Jovita or even enjoying a workout session at the Marmion Bowman Center.
Burnout during finals can also be avoided by prioritizing your time when studying, completing mock exams in a quiet area, and improving your exam time management skills. Completing mock exams allow students to pace themselves as if they were in an actual exam, which is critical when completing a timed examination.
Damion Drackett, sophomore majoring in bio-medical health sciences, said, “Finals can definitely be a stressful time during the school year. I believe that great organization skills, study, and sleeping habits allow myself to combat any stress associated with examinations.”
“Some advice that I would give to any student that feels as if the world is on their shoulders during finals is to always be mindful of not only your study habits or organization skills, but also their state of mind. Preserving your state of mind is really important, and one way that I ensure that I am very mindful is by taking mental health days.”
Following these strategies help to alleviate burnout and preserves mental health during finals season.
