Need to Relieve Stress During Final Exams? ICE Media Has Some Suggestions!

December 6, 2023

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Final exam time is stressful. Here is what members of ICE Media do to power through.

Wishing you all good luck and good mental and physical health!

What Can You Try to Relieve Stress?

Try Music

I’m still learning the ropes of how not to get completely overwhelmed by stress during finals, but listening to “Another Green World” and “Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks” by ambient musician Brian Eno has helped.

Kevin Schutz
Try Reading a Book

Something that I like doing during stressful times is reading a lot of books. I find that in times of stress and feelings of being overwhelmed a really good book or a graphic novel is a great way to help with that. It's my way of escaping things. I feel safe when I'm able to enter a world that is not my own in order to get my mind in order.

Harper M. Hosendove
Try the To-Do List

When I'm feeling overwhelmed and have a lot to do, I make a list of my priorities to help me organize my time and tasks. I always make sure that somewhere near the top of the list I include time for self-care, even if it’s just to do something simple for myself like taking a half hour away from all screens and having a cup of coffee. Having that visual reminder that my well-being is just as important as getting my work done is helpful, plus it always feels good to watch that to-do list shrink as I go. And remember: Not everything has to be perfect, it just needs to be done. You got this!

Erin Rutledge
Try Escaping into the Internet

The primary way that I practice self-care during finals is by making time for media consumption! When I’m stressed, the best way for me to handle it is by escaping the real world through various forms of content. Actions such as watching movies or scrolling on the Internet occupy your brain in a way that makes it impossible to fixate on your worries. Once I’ve had enough time with the thoughtless activity of consuming media, I feel much more refreshed and ready to try again.

Nico Arroyo
Try Just Breathing

For as long as I can remember I have struggled with test anxiety. Now whenever I am preparing for a test or find myself in a state of stress paralysis, I turn my attention to my breath. I'll take a step back from whatever I am doing and begin counting my breaths in patterns of fours; inhale for four counts, pause for four counts, exhale for four counts and finally pause for four. This cycle of breathing only takes a few seconds, but allows me to detach from the stresses I am feeling and focus on the assignment in front of me.

Molly Coleman
Try to Netflix and Chill

What I like to do for stress relief during finals time is just try and relax. What I mean by that would be to escape all the pressure by watching Netflix. I would binge a show I like. Maybe I will not finish it, but I will just watch a few episodes. I might also go on a social media site or hang out with friends.

Harrison Blum
Try a Multi-pronged Approach

Take small breaks in between work. That way you can take your mind off whatever it is you are studying.

Listen to some form of media, music, podcasts, YouTube videos, whatever you personally like to enjoy, do that.

Take time to eat and drink.So you can continue to have enough energy to study.

Go for a walk/exercise. It's always good to keep your body fresh along with your mind.

Plan things out ahead of time, make some form of checklist or schedule to follow per class, do your best on allocating time to study information per course that you’re taking.

Do your best. When it comes time to actually take your test/final be prepared and just do what you’re capable of.

Jalen Green
Try Some Tea with Honey

Exam time is a stressful time, there’s no denying that fact. One way I try to relieve stress during late night studying is to take frequent tea breaks. A favorite blend of mine is a Peruvian Anise and Chamomile tea, taken every 30-45 minutes of studying intervals as a quick 5–10-minute break away to allow my brain to relax. I find that just a few small dollops of honey help to sweeten the palate and refresh the mind to be open to upload more information. Whatever your methods of relaxing during this exam period may be, keep your head up! In a few short weeks the semester will be behind you and with the rising sun comes a new day to look forward to!

Inti Scanlon
Try Tiny Breaks

How I relieve stress is I take lots of tiny breaks so I don’t over stress myself but then once the breaks are over I go back to work, so pace yourself.

Emily Young