Eight ways to de-stress before finals

Posted on: 4/13/2015; Updated on: 4/15/2015
By Whitney Smith

With finals quickly approaching, we know that things can become stressful. Try one, a few or all of these tips to combat anxiety before all of the tests, papers and projects:

  1. Rent a bike (for free!) from Outdoor Recreation and go on a ride near the river. Outdoor Recreation has re-opened their popular bike shop at the Blatt P.E. Center on Wheat Street. The bike shop offers repairs, tune-ups and other services; training on bicycle repair and maintenance; and a fleet of rental bikes. All mountain bikes and commuter bikes are free to rent for daily and weekend use for the remainder of the semester.

  2. Go to Freshen Up for Finals at the Russell House Monday, April 27 at 8 p.m. in the Russell House. This year-end event gives students the opportunity to have a good time before finals week with carnival-themed food, games and entertainment.

  3. Purge your closet and donate all unwanted items to the Give It Up For Good program Monday, April 27-Saturday, May 9. You can donate clothing, household goods, food, plastic bags, appliances and furniture you no longer need from your residence. Donation centers will be located in the lobbies of most residence halls. Students in the Horseshoe buildings and McBryde will be provided with donation bags to place outside their rooms. Food is donated to Gamecock Pantry and Harvest Hope, and the other items are donated to Habitat for Humanity or sold at the yard sale on Saturday, May 23. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity.

  4. Bike over for a Bike-in Movie at the Green Quad on Monday, April 27 at 8:30 p.m. Come enjoy free sorghum “popcorn” and refreshing (non-alcoholic) mojitos, and stay warm and comfortable with yoga mat seating. Anyone who bikes to the event can have their bike tuned up at the ORec bike tent while enjoying the movie. Arrive at 7 p.m. for sunset tours of the Carolina Community Farm and Garden.

  5. Explore Soda City on a Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and treat yourself to a cronut from Spotted Salamander, boiled peanuts from Happiness Bomb Boiled PNUTS or fresh herb goat cheese from Trail Ridge Farm and Grade A Goat Dairy. 

  6. Try Yoga on Greene on Monday, April 20 at 8:30 a.m. on Greene Street in front of Russell House. Take your yoga practice to the next level by joining the UofSC Group X team for a free yoga class. The class will be held near the water fountain, across from the library. A limited number of mats will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.

  7. Allot yourself $20 and go crazy at a dollar store. Stock-up on study snacks, a myriad of school supplies and other things to entertain yourself when you’re in Thomas Cooper for 15 hours. 

  8. A little stress can be good, but too much can be harmful. If you feel yourself getting overwhelmed and stress management techniques aren't doing the trick, don't hesitate to reach out to a trained professional with UofSC Counseling and Psychiatry. 

Good luck on finals!

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