The Stress of
Finals
How to Survive Finals Week
Stress Free
Erica Rodriguez
Srividya Srinivasan
Stress & The College Student
“The fuel the body uses to meet the challenges
of our fast-paced modern life; for others, it is the
aversive by-product of such a life”
Too much stress can interfere with preparation,
concentration, and performance
Stress can lead to avoidance, poor
performance, or too high or low expectations for
oneself
Dealing with Stress
 Underlying
issues tend to surface & are
exacerbated during times of stress
 Know what your physical & emotional
limits are
 Identify cause of the stressor/trigger
 Seek out support!
 Utilize techniques for reducing stress
*Remember, these vary student to
student!
Tips for Preparing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Prioritize
Talk to your professor or TA ahead of time
Know for certain what material will be
covered
Look at previous exams
Get extra help
Set ground rules with your roommate
Utilize study groups
Ask students who have taken the class what
to expect
Stress Busters
 Get
enough sleep each night
 Eat Healthfully
 Be Active
 Learn to say “no” – don’t over commit yourself
 Avoid use of alcohol and drugs
 Get time away/alone
 Spend 3-5 minutes not doing anything
 Study for only 1 hour at a time, then take a break
 Make a list and write down everything you need to
get done
The Truth about All-Nighters
Only allows you to
function at 50-70% of
your capability the next
day
Can set you up for
panic, misreading test
questions, and
“blanking”
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=Q5Iuhty
Sleep Deprivation
Short Term Effects





Poor concentration &
shortened attention span
Decreased ability to retain
information
Lose ability to read others’
emotions properly
Lack of controlling your
own emotions
Weakened immune system
Long Term Effects





Alters and imbalances
hormones associated
with hunger
Reduced learning ability
Increase in the likelihood
of anxiety disorders
Weight gain
Increase risk of diabetes,
kidney failure, heart
disease, & stroke
If you must cram…
 Do
not “should” yourself, focus on the here-andnow
 Be Selective
 Skim
 Caffeine- 1-2 cups in a 24 hour period
 Light exercise
 Healthy snacks
 Music
 Power naps
 Proper lighting
 Brain Breaks
What to do Right Before Your
Exam
 Get
a good nights rest (6-8 hours
preferably)
 Eat and drink something healthy
 Deep breathing
 Meditate
 Talk to a friend
 Light exercise
 RELAX
Resources
 Counseling
and Wellness Center
 Managing Stress during Finals Week
 How to Reduce Stress During Finals Week
 Limit Stress During Finals Week
Pranayam- Breathing
Excercise
Pranayama refers to
breathing exercises included in the
practice of yoga. According to
University of Maryland Medical
Center, pranayama can help
increase blood circulation and
deliver more oxygen to the brain. As
you gain more control of your
breath, you also increase your lung
capacity, which can increase your
mental alertness and focus.
Practicing pranayama may also
help relieve stress.
Ujjayi Breathing
 Breath
passes through the back of the
throat
 A soft audible sound is created
How to do it….
 Exhale through the mouth as if you are
fogging a mirror a couple of times
 Now, keep up the same quality of
breathing with your lips sealed
Sounds of nature…