Get Moving: Boost your mood (and focus) with physical activity. Go for a stroll through the Arcata Community Forest right behind campus, head to the beach or go for a workout at the Student Recreation Center.
Eat Right: How you eat is directly linked to how you perform in the classroom. Drink plenty of water! Be sure to increase your uptake of leafy greens, healthy fats, complex carbs, vitamin C, and omega 3 fatty acids, which all contribute to different brain and bodily functions required to perform well in the classroom. The OhSNAP! Food Pantry located in Recreation and Wellness Room 122 is a resource that all students can use, free of charge, to get nutritious ingredients and healthful snacks. They are open every weekday at 9 a.m. Visit the Oh SNAP! website for more information.
Develop A Study Plan: Get ahead of your stress! Schedule times for studying, eating, exercise, and even free time. By scheduling everything, including moments for breaks and eating, you can manage your time and productivity more efficiently. By scheduling breaks, you won’t feel guilty when you take one. Additionally, make a list of tasks that you want to have done by the end of a time period, and stick to crossing them off, one by one. It can be rewarding and often contributes to a feeling of accomplishment. There are a number of Library Skill Shops that can help with making study plans, and reducing stress. Learn about Skill Shops on the Library website.
Get Plenty of Sleep: Lack of sleep correlates with increased stress levels and a reduction in memory retention. In the weeks leading up to finals, get some extra sleep, so you’re well-rested for finals. Often times it is beneficial to get an extra hour of sleep as opposed to an extra hour of studying. Just make sure that you’re actually going to bed. Be sure to turn off electronics and screens an hour to 30 minutes before actually going to bed, as the chimes and blue light of your phone can disrupt sleep and delay the REM cycle. A great way to help yourself fall asleep is by reading, listening to white noise, or making yourself a cup of tea.
Practice Good Self Care: In the weeks leading up to finals, it may be tempting to fall into bad habits in order to deal with the stress of all your big tests, but oftentimes these activities can be detrimental to your productivity. Instead, relax with your favorite pastime or hobby, such as knitting, baking, or journaling. Breathing exercises can also be a simple way of reducing stress quickly. It is also important to avoid excessive amounts of drugs, nicotine, and alcohol. Humboldt State Peer Health may be able to offer additional resources for practicing good self-care, and there a number of library skill shops that cover this exact topic.
Talk About Your Stress: Nowadays, it may seem hard to talk about how we are feeling, or how things are going in our lives. For some, it may be hard to open up, for others, it may be that we don’t want to seem intrusive or self-absorbed. Regardless, never be afraid to discuss how things are going with your friends, family, or loved ones. They all care about you and want to know how you are doing. Additionally, you may reach out to the Campus Health Center for additional counseling and resources.
HSU has a number of stress-reduction and finals prep activities for the next two weeks.
Thursday, Dec. 12
— Yoga with Sasha, RWC 125,1-2 p.m.
— DIY Snowflake, UC Quad, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
— Cookie decorating, coloring, puzzles, snacks and more! 11 a.m.-noon, Gist Hall 114
— “Crafting in a Winter Wonderland, Library 114, 7-9 p.m.
— 27th annual free Pancake Dinner for HSU students, 8-11 p.m., The J.
Friday, Dec. 13
— Trivia: Essential Oils + Raffle!!, UC Quad, 12-2 p.m.
— “Cupcakes & Chill”: Cookies and tea, RWC 108 (drop-in lounge), 3-5 p.m.
Finals Week Monday, Dec. 16 – Friday, Dec. 20
Chair Massages in Library Lobby
Monday, Dec. 16, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, Dec. 19, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Therapy dogs
Therapy Dogs International will bring their canine companions to the Library Lobby for your enjoyment during Finals Week on Monday, Dec. 16 from 2-3:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Library Lobby.
It has been clinically proven that through petting, touching, and talking with animals, blood pressure is lowered, stress is relieved, and depression is eased. Take a break from studying or reward yourself after your final and relax with a retriever, love a lab, hug a husky, or pet a pug. They are here for you to enjoy!
Note: These trained and certified dogs will be the only animals allowed. Please leave your pets at home.
Brain Booth
The Brain Booth is open on the 2nd floor with multiple items to help you reduce stress and optimize your learning!
Library Hours
The HSU Library is offering extended hours. Check the calendar for details.