Mind your mental health amidst finals season

Liv Foster 

Contributor 

The holiday season can be both the most wonderful and stressful time of the year due to the imminent arrival of exams. While it can be hard to consider anything as important as getting that A, maintaining mental health is crucial in these times. There are a variety of strategies to utilize as well as resources available at WCC to help you. 

Reach out to your instructors 

While it may seem daunting, if you have any concerns over preparing for the final or not fully understanding the material, bringing your concerns to your instructor is a great step. 

When asked if he had any advice regarding students stressing over finals, Michael Quail, a math instructor at WCC, recommends talking to their instructors. 

“My frustration is not seeing enough of my students [reaching out.] Most of the instructors at Washtenaw really care about their students. So, if they contact them, I’m sure they’ll bend over backwards to help,” he said. 

Utilize Bailey Library resources 

The library boasts various mental health resources. You can check out either a sensory maze kit or therapy light via the library for up to seven days. 

The sensory maze kit is a multisensory labyrinth that is designed for you to trace with your fingers as a form of meditation. The therapy light kit features a “happiness lamp” that simulates sunlight, in turn boosting your mood, improving sleep and increasing focus. Quail also recommended taking advantage of the study groups and personal tutors the library provides. 

Practice self care 

One way to practice self-care is through arts and crafts. Crafts have been proven to improve mental wellbeing, likely due to the sense of accomplishment and creativity that comes from completing a craft. You can visit the Bailey Library Dec. 2-12 for a DIY anti-stress ball kit, just in time for the end of the semester finals. 

Another way to practice self-care is taking a walk. Any form of physical activity, even in short 10-15 minute sessions, is beneficial for your overall health. 

 Time management 

Time management is a crucial skill for students, especially when juggling school, family, holidays, work and other priorities during finals season. Think of time management as a budget for your time; try planning out days during busy times, allotting specific amounts of time to different priorities. It doesn’t have to be minute by minute, but creating a plan for yourself, such as spending an hour studying for your exam before work, taking a break to walk or rest after studying or accomplishing any studying goals before plans with family or friends can be incredibly beneficial. Having concrete and achievable goals for completing any kind of task can be de-stressing in itself. Remember, you can always reach out to WCC success coaches to help you improve your time management skills! 

Bettering sleeping habits 

The majority of college students do not get enough sleep. Getting enough quality sleep is always important, but during stressful times especially, not getting enough will bog you down. It can affect you physically, negatively impact your mood, and decrease mental performance. 

One strategy to improve sleep is cutting out caffeine a minimum of six hours before your intended bedtime. Even if you can drink a can of Monster right before you go to bed and fall asleep just fine, it’s likely that it’s impacting your quality of sleep. Another tactic is curbing your screen time before bed. Even something as minimal as putting your phone down 15 minutes before bed can make falling asleep easier. Try replacing those 15 minutes of screen time with something beneficial to your mental health, such as journaling, reading a book, yoga,  or another nightly routine that works for you. 

Time management is key here as well. Setting a specific time you’d like to be in bed by and sticking to that time consistently, as well as aiming for at least 7 hours of sleep, will greatly improve your mood, energy levels and mental capacity.

Helpful tips:

• Schedule an appointment with WCC’s free personal counselors by calling 734-677-5223 

• Download WellTrack Boost to track your mood and use CBT techniques to boost it-you can gain a free subscription through WCC 

• Visit https://libguides.wccnet.edu/mentalhealth/overview to access further reading on mental health & more WCC resources 

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