Your Guide to Getting Through The Final Stretch of School

By: Avigail Feldman

I’m going to be fully transparent. Last week I had a full-on temper tantrum when I was on Facetime with my mom, freaking out about the last 4 weeks of the term. I was getting so anxious about all the final projects and papers I had due, all while trying to keep up with the daily tasks of life. So, like anyone else, I sat in bed and scrolled way too long on TikTok and tried to forget all about it.

It wasn’t until I got on my phone and realized that scrolling aimlessly on social media did nothing to help me. To get myself out of the funk I seemed to be in, I tried to re-implement all my start-of-year habits that seemed to magically disappear as school went on. Here are my tips to make the last weeks of university count (remind me to take my OWN advice...).

1. Make Lists

These days I find myself writing down every little thing. From the time I wake up and eat breakfast, to when I finish part 1 (a) of an assignment. Breaking down your tasks is honestly one of the simplest things you can do to make these hectic weeks feel a little stressful. You don’t need an aesthetic planner or expensive notebook, all you need is your notes app. I like to write my large tasks (papers, exams, etc) on a list, then I go into my notes app and break down each one into different parts and assign them a day. This really is the thing that keeps me from getting overwhelmed.

2. Use A Calendar

Another one of my absolute lifesavers is my trusty Google Calendar. Oh, what I would do without you (probably fall apart). No seriously, I have every single due date, sorority event, birthday, you name it filled into my calendar. It really is a huge help when you're so busy you don’t have time to check on things individually. You can color coordinate events or classes, and have everything visible. I am a person where visually planning my week is key for me to be organized, and using a digital calendar has saved my time management.

3. Move Your Body

Okay, I get it. You're tired, stressed, and want to sleep as much as you can. Trust me when I say I feel you. But moving your body can seriously decrease stress levels and make school seem not as overpowering. I love to get workouts done in the morning (it's really the only time I have), but starting my days moving my body has not only made me less stressed but has changed my attitude to be more positive. I am so much less anxious which is something I have been working on for years, so if you want to give this a try I love this 15-minute yoga video that is great if you don’t have that much time.

4. Study In Different Locations

By changing up the place you study, the less repetitive it can become. I know when I stay at home and work at my desk for 4 days in a row I can get really in my head. Branching out and changing your location to the library, coffee shop, or even a friend's house can really help you be more productive and feel less overwhelmed.

5. Give Yourself A Break, Even If You Feel Guilty

I have a love-hate relationship with taking breaks. I’m the type of person who feels really guilty if I don't complete a task on time, but sometimes not everything can get done and we all need to remember that we’re all human. I try to think of taking breaks the same as I think about working out. You always take a break or pause when you're out of breath on the treadmill – why would you not do the same with your brain? I’ve noticed a big difference when I talk with my roommates, go and have coffee, or read a book. Anything but my phone – next thing you know it's been 2 hours of scrolling. But taking a break for yourself to have some time to rest your mind is an aspect of self-care I am trying to prioritize.

If you are still feeling tense or overworked, just know that you are not alone in the slightest. Trust me when I say I am right there with you in the deep end. It's so easy to think everyone around you has their shit together and comes o as completely ok when you feel like the world is crashing. But everyone has their own struggles and expresses feelings in different ways. So if calling your mom in a panic is what you need to get by, do it. But if you do need some ideas on how to manage stress during these last few weeks of the school year, I highly recommend trying the things mentioned above.

We got this!