In this Issue: today we talk about trying to keep yourself in balance amidst finals
Between having taking Wake Forest finals myself (many moons ago) and watching my advisees and other students go through them, it is clear this can be a high-stress week with highly-charged emotions.
I’m a firm believer that you can’t bring your best self to your work if you are not taking care of yourself, so as counterintuitive as it may seem, your Deacs need to take some time away from studying to get a little exercise, eat some decent food (not just pizza!), and get enough sleep. Taking care of yourself can be a competitive advantage in finals.
So instead of feeling like you have to study all the time (because let’s face it, there will come a moment of diminishing returns where you can no longer focus and absorb the material you are studying effectively) your Deacs should schedule breaks in the action to do something else to help clear their mind and bring them some comfort.
Study breaks can take many forms:
Taking a walk or run or getting some physical exercise
Listening to calming music
Taking an hour off to watch a favorite TV show or movie (but don’t get sidetracked and bingewatch a whole season!)
Spending quality time with friends, perhaps over a meal
Meditating or practicing mindfulness. You can also indulge in a sensory experience and really pay attention to the feelings your body experiences (my favorite is walking barefoot on the lush Quad grass and focusing on the feelings of the grass, the dampness of the ground, etc.).
Using deep breathing techniques
Petting one of the many dogs that seem to get walked on campus
Getting a comfort food or beverage (my go-to drink when I need to treat myself is a Starbucks nonfat, no whip, white hot chocolate and it always makes me feel better!)
Two ways you can help your students during Finals Week:
Reminding them “you got this!” “you can do it!” “I believe in you!” “you’ve done hard things before!”
Telling your Deac very directly and plainly that your love is not dependent on their grades or their achievements: your love is unconditional. They may not tell you they need to hear it, and you might think they inherently know that, but it will mean the world to them to hear you say it.
Good luck to all our Deacs still taking finals. The finish line is starting to come into the front windshield, and that is a mighty fine sight to focus on.
