Finals Week Survival Guide: Taking Care of Your Mind and Body

Finals week can feel like everything is happening all at the same time. Deadlines get closer, study sessions get longer, and sleep gets shorter. It takes a toll on anyone, no matter how prepared you are. This guide isn’t about a perfect routine, a 5 a.m. workout, or suddenly becoming your most disciplined self. It’s about protecting your mental and physical health and creating a plan to support you when everything feels urgent.

Step 1: Set a Schedule

Before going into the week, create a realistic study schedule. Block out time for exam prep, meals, sleep, short breaks, and time with people. Deciding ahead of time how you’re going to manage your time will reduce that last minute, pre-exam panic and fatigue. Wellness during finals should improve your performance, not add to your stress.

Step 2: Use Movement as a Study Tool

Exercise during finals week doesn’t need to be some elaborate workout that takes two hours. Light, simple movements can help improve focus, boost mood, and give your brain a break. Make time to put the books down and get outside to enjoy the spring weather. Go on a 10-minute walk between chapters or set aside time to do some stretching and mobility. Finals week is not the time to push to your limits, your movement should add to your energy, not drain it completely.

Step 3: Give Your Brain a Break

Mental Recovery is just as important as physical. Your brain needs time to rest and reset so you can stay focused and process and maintain information. Rereading material over and over when it’s not sticking isn’t going to be what helps you pass that exam. Opt for low-stimulation breaks. Instead of doom scrolling on your phone, talk with friends or even combine this break with your movement. Do something that refreshes your mind instead of turning it off completely.

Step 4: Decompressing After a Long Study Day

How you wind down at the end of each day matters. Sitting in front of a screen before bed is one of the worst ways to slow down and prepare your body for real rest. Create a nighttime routine that helps tell your mind that it’s done for the day. This could be as simple as taking a shower, reading, or journaling about your day. Take the time to reset your mind and get some much-needed relief from the pressure of finals. Even 10–15 minutes of intentional decompression can make a difference in how you feel the next day.

Step 5: Spend Time with People

Finals can get isolating and stressful which is why community matters even more during this time. Sharing the stress and pressure with others makes everything feel a little lighter. Studying, exercising, or getting a meal with friends can help you feel more supported and grounded in the day to day. Sometimes a conversation or shared break is exactly what your brain needs.

Finals week is demanding, but it’s temporary. You don’t need some perfect routine to get through it. You need a realistic plan that balances “lock-in” time with necessary breaks and recovery. Taking care of yourself is more productive than forcing yourself through mental exhaustion.

Be Well, Auburn.