By Sue Danielson, health services

The Final Countdown

Over the course of the next few weeks students have two goals, to do well on exams, and to keep stress to a minimum. Students are usually found late at night in the library double-fisting caffeinated beverages, munching on sugary snacks, and shuffling around papers and books to find a place to lay their head. It’s not uncommon to sleep as little in a week as one would normally sleep in a single night.

Keeping stress levels down is important, but stress is not all bad for students. Stress helps to motivate us to do our best. The goal is to find the ideal stress level and then try to stay there.

Tips for students to perform their best on exams:

• get plenty of rest
• stay active
• eat a good breakfast
• eat healthy snacks
• stay hydrated
• breathe—take a few moments to just breathe when stress levels start to rise
• take a break from studying every now and then
• take advantage of on-campus programming during and prior to finals week
• ask for help when needed
• Talk to your friends
• write papers and finish projects early
• use study groups
• stop procrastinating on social media sites. If you need a quick laugh, watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnydFmqHuVo then go back to your studies
• see the counselor if you are having trouble managing your stress.

For more information, contact Health Services at 796-3806 or scdanielson@viterbo.edu.