By: Evelyn Kowalski

Staff-Writer

In the home stretch of the semester, stress is high. Here are some tips – the tried-and-true and some new – to help you see it through.  

1. Take a restful (screen-free) break: It’s easy to get frustrated when you study for hours, and you don’t retain information well when your eyes are glazing over. Stepping back from what you are working on and taking a breather can help you feel better, but try not to start doom-scrolling as soon as you take a break. Go for a walk, talk with friends or family or do something you like to do like knitting or drawing to relax. 
2. Self-care: If you neglect your wellbeing when you’re busy with studying or assignments, try setting a timer to remind you to take a break, stretch, eat and drink. Self-care tasks, like taking a shower, can also help you focus and get “in the zone” while also taking care of your needs. Don’t neglect positive habits like exercising or meditating. If you’re sleep-deprived, consider cutting down on the white Monster Energy drinks, and set an alarm that tells you to go to sleep – not just one that tells you to wake up. 
3. Ask for support: IU South Bend library has many resources to help you study for your final exams and submit your best work, such as the writer’s room, which can help you revise or start essays. They have ACE tutoring for those who are looking for help to understand a topic or problem in any subject. If you feel anxious or overwhelmed, the Student Counseling Center is on campus to support you, and TimelyCare (which is accessible through Canvas) provides free telehealth counseling sessions for students with minimal wait time. If you have a mental health struggle or disability that you feel is affecting your ability to meet your academic goals, Accessible Education Services can work with you to find accommodations or support that will help you succeed. 
4. Reduce distractions: Designating a study space can help you focus on working – for example, setting a rule not to do schoolwork in your bed and instead using a common area, desk or the library. Consider your personal needs – going to the library with friends might be fun, but is it more supportive to you, or distracting? Also, research shows that being able to see your phone creates mental distraction; consider putting your phone in a “phone jail” or in another room while you work. You may also consider if having a TV show or video on while you work is helpful or detracts from your productivity. 
5. Organization: If you’re overwhelmed with the number of assignments and exams you have, planning can be intimidating. One method to help quiet the mental chatter is a “brain dump” or “parking lot”. Simply take a blank sheet of paper and set a two-minute timer to write down everything that’s on your mind – school related or not – and pick out items from the list that are more actionable (for example, “get groceries” or “finish paper”) versus less actionable (like “stressed about fight with roommate”). Then, prioritize the tasks based on how soon they need to be completed and how important they are. 

Finish strong, Titans! Don’t forget to celebrate your achievement when you finish the semester, which ends on Dec. 20.