Best ways to calm down during final exam time

With the end of the school year in sight, summer seems so close, but yet so far. And while most high schools are starting to wind down, that means the hardest part of the year is about to come: Finals Week. The cycle of hard studying, internal tantrums, and searching up on the internet “ Jobs that you don’t need a college degree for” is certainly unforgettable. However, perhaps one of the most important parts about preparing for your exams is while trying to cram a bunch of content all at once, and also focus on your mental health. This is why I have come up with some of the best ways to ease stress during one of the worst weeks of your life.

Exercise 

This one is my personal favorite. Trust me, putting your body through prestigious amounts of pain at the gym will make you forget all about the 3 exams you have the next morning. Going to the gym is a good way to distract yourself and focus on yourself instead of school. It blows off a lot of steam which will calm you down. My favorite thing to do whenever I’m feeling stressed or uneasy is to go lift some weights.

Take a Step Outside

Even if this is only for a brief second, a little bit of fresh air will go a long way to helping to clear your mind and calm you down. Being stuck in a room looking at a screen and studying all day clogs up your brain quickly, which causes you to feel stressed out.

Yoga

Yoga is known to calm the mind and body down and reduce anxiety. Try yoga positions such as the Cobra, Dolphin Pose, or the Eagle for the best results.

Listen to Music

Preferably upbeat music, this will give you a little boost of adrenaline which will give you more energy and motivation to study. This one I’ve also used a lot whether it’s when I’m about to play in a big game, studying for a big test, or in the car on the way to school to take the test.

Take Breaks

While studying endlessly, It’s important that every once in a while, you take a little bit to regroup and let your brain refresh itself by doing one of these many ways of stress-relieving. Maybe try a system like an hour on, 10 minutes off, or whatever you think fits right for you. Just try and make sure that you don’t spend too much time taking breaks at the expense of your studying. 

Nothing

This one is probably the most underrated on the list. Maybe in the middle of hard topics or during a break, instead of going on your phone or getting a snack, just take 3-5 minutes and sit on your floor, lay down, or maybe even rest your eyes and just do nothing. This will go a long way to help calm you down before going to figure out what the Pythagorean Theorem is.

Overall, I think the biggest mistake you can make during finals week is overworking yourself to the point where your brain is too full and stressed that you’re unable to take a test. While studying is important and being prepared is as well, your mental health and well-being are even more important.