Final exams are a particularly stressful time for many college students. You might already be exhausted from a long semester, or maybe the term has flown by faster than you expected. In any case, if you’re prone to symptoms of anxiety or depression, periods of stress can be triggering. It will take some planning and self-care to protect your mental health while you balance studying with your other responsibilities. 

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to make your mental health a top priority while you’re preparing for final exams.

Plan your final exam preparation ahead of time

Nothing can cause an anxiety attack during finals week like realizing you’re missing something at the last minute. You should start planning time to study, write papers, and create final projects a couple of weeks before finals start. 

First, look at your exam schedule ahead of time so you can plan your meals, breaks for self-care, and last-minute trips to the library or the printing lab. Then estimate how much time you’ll need to write papers and study for exams. Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need and work backward to time block the weeks before finals. Take note of what supplies, library books and school resources you’ll need to use so you can plan to have everything you need. Last, what healthy snacks and low-prep meals are your go-tos when you’re busy? And do you have any prescriptions you need to refill? Make sure you’re stocked up and you have a water bottle to keep you hydrated.

Here’s your quick checklist for final exam preparation:

• Review your exam schedule. 
• Estimate and time block your final exam preparation.
• Gather supplies and resources.
• Stock finals week food, water and medications.

Balance study time with self-care

Full days of studying and all-nighters can lead to an energy crash that will take time to recover from. Getting enough sleep every night and eating a balanced diet are some of the best things you can do to stay energized. Plan breaks to get outside, stretch your legs, eat regularly and do your favorite relaxing activities. Set an alarm to remind yourself if you need to. You should also make time to connect with a friend or two during study breaks. This is another reason why it’s important to get started early. When students rush to do everything at the last minute, that’s when self-care gets ignored.

Practicing mindfulness is a great way to manage stress, anxiety and overwhelm during final exams. Take some time early in the day to find a quiet spot and tune into what you can feel in the here and now. Try to calm your mind by taking note of any thoughts that are coming up and then coming back to the present moment. You can write them down if that helps. Taking five or 10 minutes to do this every day is like building your mindfulness muscle. When you maintain a regular practice, you’ll be able to tap into this state of calm when you need to.

Know what mental health resources are available

You may have access to therapists, counselors, support groups or other resources on campus. If your school has a tutoring center, consider making an appointment for any finals that might be difficult. Find out what’s available at your school and what mental health services your health insurance covers. 

If outpatient therapy isn’t enough support for you, an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is the next step to consider. Lightfully University is a virtual IOP for young adults aged 18 to 25. It’s covered by most major insurance plans and UC SHIP. We also offer flexible scheduling so you can plan sessions around your school schedule. 

Prepare for better mental health beyond finals week

You’re already putting yourself a step ahead by learning how to prioritize your mental health in your final exam preparations. There aren’t any tricks or shortcuts to taking care of your body and your brain. Planning ahead and gathering everything you need will help you minimize last-minute surprises. And getting enough sleep, nutrition and exercise will enable you to handle any obstacles that come up.

If finals week is a big source of stress every semester, consider working with a therapist to help you manage your emotions. Lightfully University is for college-aged young adults with mental health conditions that affect life activities like school and socializing. It may be best to start early in the semester or during breaks so you’ll have more time to focus on your mental health.

Best of luck with your finals! If you ever need a higher level of mental health treatment, we’ll be here.