How to thrive, not just survive, at the end of the semester

It’s almost the end of the semester, which is a great time for many of us. That means looking forward to summer, saying goodbye to piles and piles of homework for a few months, and enjoying the recent spring-y weather that we’ve had here in Seward.  

But the lead-up to summer can also be pretty stressful. Those piles and piles of homework are still around, and maybe even more so, in the few weeks before finals. For approximately a quarter (give or take a little bit) of Concordia’s population, the end of their college career and beginning of their post-college life is fast approaching. Plus, there are finals, presentations, music juries, and loads of other things that I could list but won’t -- because I’m sure you’re well aware they exist.  

All the end-of-the semester craziness and busyness put together can lead us to feel like we’re just surviving. That can mean that, each day you wake up, you count the hours until you get to go back to bed, count the days until your last final is over, or just count how many assignments you need to finish that day. It can be exhausting. But there’s still room to thrive, even during these last few weeks of the semester. Here are some of the ways that I help myself thrive during this time, and perhaps you can too. 

Go outside. It seems so simple and like something you might not take a lot of time to think about, but going outside is one of my favorite ways to de-stress near the end of the school year. Since the weather tends to be decent, outside is generally a nice place to be. Plus, all the blossoms are out. That’s my favorite part. If you happen to not be allergic to them, consider spending some time under a nice blossoming tree.  

Treat yourself. Hey, it’s a difficult time of the semester, and we all deserve a fun little treat every now and then. If you have extra dining dollars, maybe get a nice latte at 10:31 in the morning. Buy a milkshake at the Dog House, or, if you’re out of dining dollars, a blizzard at Dairy Queen. Having a nice little treat to look forward to at the end of the day...is like a reward for all the hard work you’ve been putting in this semester.  

Romanticize life a little. Sometimes, you just have to buckle down and do the homework, study for the test, or complete the project. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Pretend you’re in a novel, or your favorite movie. When I get de-motivated by the amount of work I have to do, I like to think that I’m in the movie Dead Poets Society. Sometimes it helps, and sometimes it just makes me want to watch the movie again. Either way, maybe romanticizing your life a little bit will help you thrive. It just makes things a little more fun and whimsical.  

Pray. My best advice would be to pray before you’re deep in the struggle of finals week. God wants to hear from you all the time, not just when things get especially hard. Talk to Him if you’re having a rough day! Talk to Him if you’re having a great day, or a mediocre day, or a super busy day! No matter what day or time it is, or what mood you’re in, God is there to lighten the load. Remember, as the Bible says, “come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28 NIV).  

Remember how far you’ve come. Seriously – we're fourteen weeks into the semester at this point. That means you’ve made it through fourteen weeks of the classes you’re taking. If it’s been a good semester, great! If it’s been a not-so-fantastic semester, you are so close to being done! When it gets tough during these last three-ish weeks, just look back at the past fourteen or more. You’ve accomplished so much this semester, and you’re going to make it through it. I promise.  

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