Tips for Helping Students Deal With Stress During Final Exams

Well, finals are finally upon us and students are feeling more stressed than ever (um, so are adults!).  If you are looking for some practical tips to help your student manage their stress during finals, here are some strategies from Active Minds you may consider using with your students. 

Six Strategies

1.  Unplug the social media

This is a hard for me so I know it is super hard for our teens. However, we know that social media can be a huge time waster and a source of additional stress.

Tip: Suggest that teens download the Freedom app. This app shuts down social media. 

Freedom App (has a free trial and coupon)

2.  Pay attention to time management

Even students with the best time management skills face challenges during finals.  The students who lack time management are truly most at-risk for increased levels of stress.

Tip: Suggest that teens try a study app or study timer. 

• My Study Life is a great app to download for keeping up with classes, assignments, and exams. My Study Life

• The Pomofocus app allows for study times and breaks. Pomodoro Timer

3. Get 8-10 hours of sleep per night

Ok, right.  Teens are notorious for not sleeping, especially during finals.  The CDC recommends 8-10 hours of sleep per night for teens ages 13-18. 

Tip: Refrain from the study drug, caffeine after 6 PM.

4. Try to get at least 10 minutes of exercise per day

During levels of high stress, it is easy to become stagnate. Researchers have found that just 10 minutes of exercise can relieve anxiety. 

Tip: Go for a 10 minute work or do an AMRAP (as many reps as possible) of the following exercise:

 5 Push-Ups • 10 Squats • 16 Plank Taps • 20 Jumping Jacks -- Rest 45 seconds.

5. Try a bottom up stress reliever

One bottom up strategy for calming a stressful moment is deep breathing.  Unfortunately, many teens do not how to use this strategy effectively. Done ineffectively, this technique can cause a student to hyperventilate!! 

There are many times of deep breathing strategies you can teach your students including star breathing, square breathing, box breathing, and 4-8-7 breathing. Sometimes modeling this technique with a student can be helpful.

Tip: Show students the box breathing 1:00 minute video.

Also, check out a handout I created on different types of breathing techniques from my TPT Store.

Deep Breathing Exercise for Teens

6. Talk to someone

Another effective stress reliever is simple, but can be hard for many teens -- talking about their stress. It is important for teens to be able to reach out to trusted peers and/or adults when they are feeling stressed.  Being available to speak to teens before school, during breaks, or in the hall can be helpful for students.  

Tip: Create a stress relief kit. 

In my office, I have a stress kit that I keep for students when they are feeling stressed. These items often include:

Stress balls

Playdough

Fidget toys

Lotion

Peppermint

Dark chocolate

Water

Coloring book/markers

Doodle pad

Stress bracelet

Stress relief desk toys

Okay, now share these tips with your students. If you need a handout/poster with these tips, check out my TPT Store for a pre-made one.  Who needs the stress in creating something at the end of the year?  

Tips for Feelings Stressed During Finals