5 Things That Matter More Than Your Finals, Grades, And GPA

Because although it feels as though these things are massively important right now, in the long run they aren't.

1. Your Mental Health

Finals are incredibly stressful. Always. 44% of American college students reported feeling symptoms of depression, and theres nothing to make that number rise than feeling like you're drowning in work. Depression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental health problems students confront. It isn't healthy to put your mental health at risk for a grade. A grade is simply a number and you are so much more than a number. Remember to take care of yourself, even if that means sacrificing a bit of study time to take care of you.

2. Your Physical Health

Don't forget to get enough sleep, eat enough food, not over-do the caffeine (or adderall!), etc. Exhaustion and fatigue can make you feel awful, leading to your mental health suffering, and your grades. I know we've all heard it so much it no longer seems true, but it is: An extra hour of sleep is better than an extra hour of studying. Know your body's limits and keep it healthy!

3. Your Friends

All the stress from finals and projects leads to pretty much everyone being uptight or on edge. Remember your friends probably feel just as awful and stressed as you do! Go easy on them, being intolerant will probably only lead to fighting as you're all just trying to get through the week.

Also, remember to check on friend's mental health throughout the week. If someone seems way more down than usual, make sure they're ok! Nothing's worse than feeling like you're at your lowest and also feeling like you can't reach out to anyone because you don't want to add to their stress levels.

4. Being Honest

With yourself. With your friends. With your professors.

Be honest about the personal space you need during finals. If someone asks if you're ok, be honest! The best thing about college is you always have a very convenient network around you, of friends, of professors, of your school's student health center. Be honest with yourself! Just make sure you're not too hard on you.

Be honest about what you need! you need to feel good, not just pass this test. You are more than this test.

5. Many other things!

I know this sounds like a cop-out one, but it's true!

Take a deep breath. There are so many more important things you will do in your life than this final.

I know it's hard to come to terms with, and you've heard it 20 million times since kindergarden, but REALLY...you can only do your best. Try your best, be your best, and accept what comes out of it. Accept it and move on. There are bigger things in your life than this.

And it's almost over! Then you've got a whole great, warm, summer break ahead of you <3