Academic life is not easy for most people. It requires much time and energy from students and can be challenging even without the added weight of a job and trying to fit a social life in there somewhere. Fast forward to the weeks before finals and life can be straight up unbearable for some people if they don’t manage their health and time.
Why people put themselves through the wringer every semester without a second thought for making time for their mental health is beyond me. It’s crucial, especially long-term.
If I never gave myself time to relax for a moment, maybe read a book, or get just a little extra of that much-needed sleep, I’d probably look like a zombie. I’ve learned over the years that not making some time for my mental health is a mistake.
Just look around campus as finals loom ever closer and you will notice the bi-annual apocalypse occurring with all the sleep-deprived, over-stressed students moaning and slowly shuffling around with sunken, dead-looking eyes. You’ll notice all kinds of negative side-effects taking place if you know what you’re looking for. I’ve seen everything from quarter-baked final essays, falling asleep during reviews for finals and full on sickness due to students overworking themselves.
It’s not worth it to ignore your health for weeks if not even a month before the semester ends.
Instead of becoming one of the zombie horde, make some time for yourself to just slow down for a moment. I understand that your time is precious and that you’re probably wondering, ‘Who is this guy telling me what to do with my time?’
Trust me when I tell you that the benefits of taking even just half an hour a day to just slow down and collect yourself a little bit far outweigh trying to work nonstop throughout the day.
Nobody wants to see you shuffling around half-dead around campus and I doubt you want to feel that way either. Just do yourself a favor and make some time for yourself every day. Whether it be 15 minutes or over an hour. Anything you can squeeze in for yourself to just slow down, pop a chill pill and give your brain a rest is very much worth it.
Trying to escape the apocalypse is no easy task and is best approached with a team at your side when you begin to fall behind the rest of the surviving pack. One such team that is ready for action is the Wellness Center inside the Half Acre Gym. They are armed with programs and staff available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. who can get you pointed in the right direction for being battle ready this apocalypse season.
Worst case in all the chaos that is the time period leading up to finals week is that you might have less of a risk of having a mental breakdown and getting overwhelmed by the horde that I see every year. I’d say when the apocalypse is at the door, you might as well take every opportunity you can for yourself to ensure survival to end.
