by Azha Mosley
1000 Faces Coffee shop in downtown Athens.
Finals season can be stressful to say the least. It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, it’s important to remain hopeful during this season. Here are three tips that can help you to feel motivated and energized this week.
Get Enough Sleep
It’s scientifically proven that sleep improves your cognitive function or brain efficiency. If you allow your brain to breathe and reset, you can regulate your nervous system. Sleep is a path to peace and calmness in the midst of an intense thunderstorm. Make sure you get those 8 hours of good sleep a night.
Try Something New in Athens
As students, we live in Athens for ten months out of the year. Yet there is a probability that there is something we haven’t tried before. Personally, I’ve never been to a fitness studio in Athens, and there are so many to choose from. There are a plethora of great spots in Athens, ranging from coffee shops to museums. Some coffee shops that are worth trying are 1000 Faces, Daydreamer Cafe, and Foxtail Coffee. Additionally, during the holiday season, the Christmas lights on Milledge Avenue are a must see! If you have time, I recommend trying something new that can take your mind off of finals and allow you to see the beauty in your environment and surroundings.
Meditate
Lastly, on the path to calming your nervous system during finals is meditation. Every morning I spend fifteen minutes with no distractions – it’s just me and the silence around me. I take time to breathe and appreciate the life that I live. I stretch and journal my intentions for the day. I’ve noticed that the more effort I put into starting my day off strong, it improves my overall daily disposition. It’s important during this time to meditate and regulate your mind. Whether that be through an at-home yoga session or fifteen minutes of journaling your intentions, find what works best for you!
I know that this time is stressful, but the only way out is pushing through, and you can do it! These three tips are just a small portion of ideas you can try to keep you motivated and relaxed. UGA has a wide variety of resources available to students, so if you need extra help, please ask for it. Good luck on finals and I can’t wait to see you all next semester. Happy Holidays!
