Finals can be a hectic time.
The culmination of cramming a term’s worth of information into one week can take a mental and physical toll on any student. When everything is over, students need time to unwind and decompress from a full term of work.
Each student has their own way of relaxing after finals. Many will go out and socialize to get their mind off of school.
For the last week of school, most students’ interactions consist of a one-way relationship with a textbook or laptop screen. Whether it’s going to a movie or drinking with a few friends, students need a break.
Experts who deal with stress say exercise, socializing, laughing, changing a routine, getting fresh air and overall being kind to yourself are the best ways to release a lot of built-up stress. Madeline Van, a writer for Everyday Health, recommends these methods to deal with stress, which can be detrimental to a person’s well-being if not handled properly.
One of the biggest recommendations from experts is exercise.
“I play volleyball and work out,” Melissa Smith, a sophomore studying pre-Family and Human Services, said. “It’s a good way of getting rid of the stress. I do it while studying and after I’m done with finals.”
Alex Bontecou, a senior majoring in French and humanities, incorporates a few techniques in reducing stress.
Bontecou, who is in her last year of undergraduate work, has gained a lot of experience de-stressing over the years. She does yoga at home and dances. Chocolate also helps, she said.
“It’s basically about taking the time to do things you haven’t been able to do in your free time,” Bontecou said.
Evan Smith, a sophomore pre-business major who has been spending a lot of time studying in the EMU, said a combination of relaxing and seeing friends was his best way of relieving the stress from finals.
“I usually go to a nice dinner at a restaurant, chill and listen to music, and then go out,” Smith said.
Dominique Woodard, a junior majoring in sociology and Spanish, also found socializing to be the best remedy after finals week. But unlike students who stay in Eugene to party with friends, Woodard prefers to go elsewhere to unwind.
“I don’t have a lot of time to spend with my family, so when I’m done with finals I leave Eugene to see them,” she said. “Getting out of town and spending time with friends and family is a good de-stressor.”
With relatives and friends along the West Coast, Woodard splits her time between visiting Sacramento and Los Angeles and heading north to Tacoma and Seattle.
For others, the constant scramble of finals can leave students preferring to have time alone to enjoy the simplicity of peace and quiet.
Ryan Kwon, a junior studying economics and pre-business, sees the time after finals as a good opportunity to explore the surrounding areas outside of Eugene that he usually doesn’t have time to see while in school.
“Sometimes it’s good to have a conversation about the test, but other times it’s good to just get away,” Kwon said. “My own particular way is to buy an iced coffee and drive around to different areas. I drive around outside the city. Sometimes I head out to the mountains, but usually I drive until I end up in Florence.”
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