The first key to success is to stay organized. In fact, organization will be your greatest ally to help you manage your stress! As stress impacts your overall mood and performance, it is extremely important to manage it well. Check out our tips below!
1. Create a schedule including all of your assignments, projects, exams, and personal activities. This will allow you to keep track of your work and be better prepared when the dreaded, stressful exam season arrives.
2. Do not let the work pile up, and do a little bit of everything every day. Some students like to work on only one school subject during the day, but this tends to decrease productivity and leaves you with a feeling of unaccomplishment.
3. Include study breaks between study sessions. Since the frequency and length of a study break depend on various factors, it is up to you to find out what works best for you! One famous time management method is the Pomodoro Technique, which consists of breaking down work in intervals of 25 minutes, separated by five-minute breaks.
4. Avoid distractions at all costs while you are studying. If you are surrounded by distractions, it will be more difficult to stick to your study schedule. Try to find a distraction-free spot, and turn off your phone while studying.
5. Sleep! A common source of stress is a lack of sleep. Getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep every day will boost your productivity as well as your overall mental wellbeing.
6. Make time for other activities. Exercising, seeing friends, and hobbies are healthy ways to reduce your stress levels.
For more in-depth advice, check out our MASSA Podcast episode How to Manage your Stress and Stay Organized during Finals featuring Mengding Tian and her guest speaker, Amine Ben Arous.