That wonderful time of the year is upon us yet again at Worcester State: finals. Since classes officially ended on Dec. 6, we’re heading into final exam week, which runs through Dec. 19 with makeup days lasting until Dec. 23, marking the end of the Fall 2024 semester.
By the end of the semester, it’s easy to feel burnt out, stressed, and overwhelmed. According to a study by the ACHA-NCHA IIIb Reference Group, 49.2% of the 79,246 students surveyed report problems or challenges with academics. 86.6% of those students report that their level of stress is moderate to high, therefore causing it to interfere with their day-to-day lives. If you’re feeling in over your head this finals season, you aren’t alone. Luckily, there are many resources and strategies available to help.
WSU Counseling Services
Here at WSU, we are incredibly lucky to have access to counseling that is free of charge to all students. The counseling services office, which can be found on the third floor of the Student Center in suite 325, offers one-on-one counseling sessions with licensed professionals, group counseling, anonymous online mental health screenings, consultations, outreach services, and sexual violence support. To book an appointment at the counseling center, students can call 508-929-8072 or email [email protected]. If you’re in need of same-day support, they also offer triage services 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and 2–4 p.m.
ResilientU
ResilientU is the Counseling Services’ 24/7 support line platform. Through ResilientU, students can virtually connect with a counselor at any time if they are in need of immediate support. Through ResilientU, students also have access to Headspace, a meditation and wellness app. Normally, a Headspace subscription costs $69.99 per year, but Worcester State students get it for free. Headspace is useful for unwinding, relaxing, and taking stress-free breaks.
Pacing Yourself
Hold your horses! Don’t study more than you relax. Time management is your new best friend. Cramming all of your studying into jam-packed, hours-long sessions is not only anxiety (and headache) inducing, but it has been proven to be ineffective. The American Psychology Association (APA) recommends spacing out studying sessions into smaller blocks of focused time, rather than trying to force all of your learning material into one big studying session. If you have six chapters of material to review, instead of studying for six hours, study two chapters for 2-hour sessions at a time, taking breaks in between. Do this three times, and you’ve studied all of the material!
Getting Good Sleep
I know, I know; it’s so tempting to stock up on coffee and energy drinks and push through on power naps. However, our brains need sleep in order to function properly—and caffeine does not count as sleep. National News in Health, the US Department of Health and Human Services newsletter, explains that a lack of sleep could cause your brain’s ability to retain information to drop by a hefty 40%. Young adults need roughly 7–9 hours of quality sleep a night. What counts as quality sleep? The Sleep Foundation qualifies good sleep as sleep that adheres to a repeated schedule, is physically comfortable (at a good temperature, on a proper mattress, and in the dark), and is absent from stimuli like technology, noise, caffeine, or sugar. If you’re finding yourself yawning and rubbing your eyes halfway through your late-night study session, don’t sweat it. Put down the Redbull, climb into bed, and pick back up where you left off tomorrow!
Relax
Relaxing seems like a no-brainer. Still, many of us struggle to actually relax, even when we’ve set aside the time to do so. Have you ever curled up to watch TV or read a book, but found your mind wandering to all of the productive things you could be doing instead? Newsflash: you’re not relaxing if you’re worrying. It’s okay to hit pause on that constant stream of to-dos. Rest is just as valuable and productive as chores, school, and work! Resting is vital to both our physical and mental health. Without adequate relaxation time, adults are more prone to cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, high blood pressure, and poor mental health. So, rest assured, your Netflix binge-watching can go guilt-free. The world can wait!
