Finals are coming soon and they can lead to stress for most students. Stress is a physical response affecting your mood and life. “Finals get me nervous because I don’t know everything that’s going to be on the tests. There’s always an element of surprise during finals,” said Madeleine Rivera, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’12. Exposure to stress can have long-term effects for your health. Stress can lead to anxiety, depression heart disease, obesity, autoimmune diseases, skin conditions and digestive and sleep problems. “I get stressed and from stress I get anxiety, especially during finals week. The way I deal with my stress is by relaxing and taking deep breaths if I want to get things off my mind,” said Angela Krontiris, FCLC ’12. As a result of the pending end-of-year drama, I have written up my own personal tips to cope with the end of semester chaos.

1. Relax!!!

You can relax by taking a nap or even going outside for fresh air. Central Park or even the Plaza outside Lowenstein are ideal places to decompress from all those difficult readings. “In order to manage stress I get Swedish tissue massages. I find that this relieves any tension in your body created by stress. I also take long baths; this helps me to relax,” said Hannah Dierker, FCLC ’12.

2. Eat right and exercise 

Eating right makes you healthier and aware of the calories you are taking in. “I meditate and exercise, so I can relieve stress. It helps me stay positive and puts me in a better mood,” said Sathi Roy, FCLC ’13. Your personal stamina and strength will also have a great effect once you eat right. Regular daily exercise boosts the immune system, improves your mental health, helps avoid depression and boosts self-esteem, which is  great during finals week. “I get stressed mostly over financial issues, but during finals I procrastinate and I go to yoga and eat chocolate,” said Ellison Mellor, FCLC ’11.

3. Get enough sleep

Sleep helps your heart. It lowers blood pressure and cholesterol by reducing inflammation in the arteries, making you more energized and restored. Furthermore, with the right amount of sleep, you feel less cranky and more enthusiastic about tackling those tough exams.

4. Learn to be more organized 

Organization can help students know what to do in the right times. Using a day planner or calendar to plan what to study for can help you get ready and prepared for finals. Spreadsheets, Post-Its and eraser boards can help with your organization as well. “For me, the key to managing stress is making sure you’re aware of all deadlines. There’s nothing worse than realizing you have an assignment due just a few days before,” said Katarina O’Regan, FCLC ’12.

5. Look for the humor in things 

A sense of humor can help you have a positive attitude and keep you in control. Try watching a short funny clip on Youtube or Funnyordie.com. Lose yourself in a few moments of laugher. Beware though of the related videos sidebar on Youtube; this may be the difference between a 10-minute break or a wasted hour of watching random videos. My advice: stick to three funny short clips.

Overall, with a sense of control, a positive outlook and the proper preparation, you can learn to breeze by your finals week and live a stress-free life. The more  emphasis you put on your emotional and physical health, the stronger and more focused you will be once the first day of finals hits.