Some stress may be inevitable during finals week, but you don't have to let it get the best of you.
Dr. Judy Shipp is executive director of the Counseling Center and Student Support Services at the University of Illinois Springfield. To stay levelheaded while studying, she suggests getting enough sleep, making sure to exercise, taking breaks during your studying, planning a study schedule and starting preparation early.
"A lot of times students tend to save things to the last minute, and then there's never enough time," Shipp said. She also encouraged stressed-out students to talk with a family member, friend or counseling professional.
Students can also change their habits before finals hit. Shipp encourages high schoolers to regularly try visual imagery, deep breathing, yoga or meditation.
"Learning how to relax is a really good thing," she said. "Learning how to build that into one's daily routine can be really helpful."
Here are some other stress-reduction tips that Voice staff ers use.
· Sam Mounce, Voice intern, senior at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School "I usually stop and make myself some hot chocolate or chai tea and drink it for 15 minutes or so."
· Kayla Wappel, junior, Southeast High School "Studying with friends in a public place (like Starbucks) where we won't be tempted to mess around and can just focus and help each other out."
· Leigh Ann Wolle, sophomore, Pleasant Plains High School "I watch Christmas movies during first semester finals.
I plan my summer trips in breaks from study for second semester."
· Nick Smith, junior, Southeast High School "I relax I start going over the material a couple weeks before the test so I have enough time to study slowly and make sure I know everything. I use study techniques that help me, and I just keep living my life and treat it like any other test."
· Emma Hardy, sophomore, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School "I usually try typing everything I need to know on two pieces of paper, one for questions and one for answers. Writing it all down helps me memorize it, and two separate sheets make it easier to study."
· Paige Plummer, freshman, Rochester High School "I think just hanging out with my friends and having a lot of fun with them is a great stress reliever from finals."
· Jenny Haley, sophomore, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School "I just take short breaks throughout studying to eat a snack, like fruit."
· Joseph Mocharnuk, senior, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School "I take 15-minute breaks between studying each set of information.
It helps me to retain important facts and ideas without being overwhelming."
· Rebecca Davis, senior, Springfield High School "I deal with finals stress by taking each day at a time and trying to focus on what needs to be done now and not what I have to do tomorrow."
· Sophie Penwell, senior, Glenwood High School "For me, it's all about getting comfy and ready to study.
Snacks ready, pillow to scream into and phone off, but computer on."
Dr. Judy Shipp is executive director of the Counseling Center and Student Support Services at the University of Illinois Springfield. To stay levelheaded while studying, she suggests getting enough sleep, making sure to exercise, taking breaks during your studying, planning a study schedule and starting preparation early.
"A lot of times students tend to save things to the last minute, and then there's never enough time," Shipp said. She also encouraged stressed-out students to talk with a family member, friend or counseling professional.
Students can also change their habits before finals hit. Shipp encourages high schoolers to regularly try visual imagery, deep breathing, yoga or meditation.
"Learning how to relax is a really good thing," she said. "Learning how to build that into one's daily routine can be really helpful."
Here are some other stress-reduction tips that Voice staff ers use.
· Sam Mounce, Voice intern, senior at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School "I usually stop and make myself some hot chocolate or chai tea and drink it for 15 minutes or so."
· Kayla Wappel, junior, Southeast High School "Studying with friends in a public place (like Starbucks) where we won't be tempted to mess around and can just focus and help each other out."
· Leigh Ann Wolle, sophomore, Pleasant Plains High School "I watch Christmas movies during first semester finals.
I plan my summer trips in breaks from study for second semester."
· Nick Smith, junior, Southeast High School "I relax I start going over the material a couple weeks before the test so I have enough time to study slowly and make sure I know everything. I use study techniques that help me, and I just keep living my life and treat it like any other test."
· Emma Hardy, sophomore, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School "I usually try typing everything I need to know on two pieces of paper, one for questions and one for answers. Writing it all down helps me memorize it, and two separate sheets make it easier to study."
· Paige Plummer, freshman, Rochester High School "I think just hanging out with my friends and having a lot of fun with them is a great stress reliever from finals."
· Jenny Haley, sophomore, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School "I just take short breaks throughout studying to eat a snack, like fruit."
· Joseph Mocharnuk, senior, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School "I take 15-minute breaks between studying each set of information.
It helps me to retain important facts and ideas without being overwhelming."
· Rebecca Davis, senior, Springfield High School "I deal with finals stress by taking each day at a time and trying to focus on what needs to be done now and not what I have to do tomorrow."
· Sophie Penwell, senior, Glenwood High School "For me, it's all about getting comfy and ready to study.
Snacks ready, pillow to scream into and phone off, but computer on."