How to Manage Stress During Finals Week

May Mental Health Awareness Month

"It’s natural to have mixed emotions of excitement and nervousness during this time," said SMCHS Wellness Coordintar Susan Sansour. "Know that the nerves you feel are natural driving forces that heighten your need to study and focus during the exams. Sometimes these nerves can feel overpowering, so we wanted to share a few calming strategies that may be helpful to you during this time.  

Engage in deep breathing techniques to slow down your emotions and increase your ability to think through the questions. Prayer, meditation, grounding techniques and mantras such as, "I can do this; this is another exam" can help lower stress levels and help us be present and focused. It’s also important to remember that your thoughts can impact your mood, so reframing negative beliefs with positive ones is helpful. For example, change "I’m going to fail” to “This is hard, but I’m going to try my best” or “I’ve done well on previous exams I can do well on this one.”  It’s also important to remember to stay hydrated, nourish your body, and get plenty of rest. Know that support is also available. 

The Wellness Lounge in the Caritas Christi Center will remain open during finals week from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Wellness will be closed for the summer, but you can check out plenty of community-based resources here.

The Wellness team is grateful for all of you and proud of all you have achieved this year. Best wishes on your exams and have a fun-filled summer ahead!