With Thanksgiving break now over, it is crunch time at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As students, we are bombarded with opinions and ideas of how to best study for finals, write papers and succeed in general. We are told to “Plan ahead!” “Start early!” “Get plenty of sleep!” “Eat healthy!” and “Exercise!” This advice can be very useful, but only the most talented of individuals are capable of consistently doing all of these things. Additionally, even if you precisely follow all of this advice you are still not guaranteed success, and frankly, I am sick of hearing these same things all the time. I think it is quite clear that certain people are more easily stressed out than others, and that at certain times even the calmest of people can be overwhelmed by anxiety. I think of the standard advice as very effective stress prevention, but not efficient stress reduction. At this time of year, I think it is safe to say that most people are feeling at least a small amount of anxiety, and, therefore, the standard advice won’t be of much value.
That is why I propose the best way to succeed at the end of the year is to stop freaking out! Yes, you got that right. Stop freaking out. It might sound simple and obvious, but I think it is often overlooked. If the standard advice fails us and we become stressed and start freaking out, then we must resort to other efforts to stop worrying.
The standard advice for success is flawed. It is generally based on suggestions to plan ahead, start early, get enough sleep, eat well and exercise. But what happens if we are unable to do these? None of them matters if a person is overcome by stress and anxiety. Although it is important to regularly try these typical methods, stress and anxiety (signs that you are freaking out!) can prevent you from planning ahead or starting early, leave you feeling tired, make you crave McDonald’s and keep you stuck on the couch all day. In short, stress can sap you of the motivation to start and the belief and hope that you are capable of succeeding. If you are the kind of person who has the motivation to start and the belief you can succeed then even though I am sick of hearing about it, I encourage you to follow the standard advice because it can help you be productive. If you currently lack the motivation to start and/or the belief that you can succeed, then you must first stop freaking out before doing anything else. Reduce your level of stress and anxiety to a manageable point, and then proceed to the standard advice.
In order to reduce your “freak out level” from an overwhelming 9 or 10 to a manageable 3 or 4, you must do your best to pinpoint what is causing your stress. This can often be difficult and inaccurate, but it is a great place to start. Ask yourself: Is a specific class stressing me out? Are any exams particularly worrisome? Is my obnoxious roommate being especially annoying? If you can locate what is causing your stress, then take steps to fix it. If you can’t pinpoint what is bothering you or you don’t know how to fix it, then talk things over with family and friends or see a counselor through University Health Services. There is nothing wrong with seeking help from a professional. Mental health is an overlooked, underappreciated and stigmatized part of our society, but it is arguably the most important part of our health and well-being. Seek out help if you are unable to lower your stress to a manageable point. Once stress has been corralled and neutralized, then maintain that level as best as possible by adhering to the usual advice.
I could not possibly count the amount of times that I have heard students freaking out on campus about upcoming assignments whether it’s studying for exams, writing papers, preparing for labs or making presentations. Many students overexaggerate the importance of small assignments and put off the large ones because of an inability of knowing how to start. I have a tendency to do these exact things. If I have a big assignment coming up, I often do my lesser important work first to clear my head and tie up loose ends. This, I believe, is a good thing for me to do. However, it stems from an inner anxiety I have for starting large assignments, which is not a good thing. I have to tell myself not to freak out and to just start chipping away at my work. If I allow myself to be overcome by the complexity and time commitment of an assignment, I start worrying and can’t focus. I believe that I am not alone, and these exact issues affect other people as well. By worrying too much about something that needs to get done, it will never actually get done effectively. Lower your stress by putting yourself in the mindset that nothing is too difficult or complicated to finish or prepare for.
Finals can be a stressful time for everyone involved. Professors’ and TAs’ workloads are increasing, and students have a seemingly insurmountable pile of homework to complete. By planning ahead, starting early, getting enough sleep, eating well and exercising it is possible to avoid getting too stressed out. However, if these methods fail you and you feel overwhelmed by stress, pinpoint what is causing your stress and take steps to remove it. If this fails, talk to a professional to receive help. The end of the semester is challenging but not impossible. Remember that winter break is right around the corner.
Tom is a junior majoring in history and psychology. How do you feel about finals week? Do you have a stressful exam week coming up? Do you agree with Tom on how to reduce stress? Let us know what you think. Please send all comments, questions and concerns to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
