How to Manage End-of-Year Stress

Although the end of the year should be a time to look forward to, it definitely brings its share of stress. This is especially true for students — you need to balance studying for finals with holiday parties and other seasonal events, make travel plans to return home to your family, and purchase gifts, which could stretch your budget thin. No matter what’s stressing you this year, there are things you can do to feel better.

1. Set Some Rules for Yourself

Self-discipline can go a long way toward beating stress. This means setting rules for yourself and making sure you stick to them. These rules could relate to your budget for gifts, sticking to a study schedule, or living a healthy lifestyle even when temptations abound.

2. Eat a Balanced Diet

Key to staying healthy is eating well. Gaining most of your calories from whole grains, vegetables, and high-protein foods will keep you energized for longer, which will ensure you can cope with any challenges that crop up. In addition, a diet rich in vitamins and minerals can improve your sleep quality.

3. Sleep Enough

Of course, you’ll need to put in the effort to ensure you sleep enough — simply eating a balanced diet won’t automatically lead to longer nights in bed. The best thing to do is set a bedtime and wake-up time and make sure you stick to them, at least on weekdays. Only when your body is able to recover from all the activities of the day are you able to manage your stress. In addition, sleeping enough will keep your immune system strong, which is particularly important when you’re feeling rundown, as this makes you more prone to illness.

4. Make Time for Yourself

It’s easy to forget to take time for yourself at the end of the year. With classes, exams, clubs, and social engagements, you may have a full schedule. All this can become exhausting and may mean you miss out on doing the things you enjoy the most. Remind yourself it’s fine to turn down some invitations for a quiet night in or a weekend on your own enjoying your hobbies. Go for a nature walk, read a book for pleasure, or finish a craft — whatever brings you joy. You should find you feel refreshed and stress free after just a few hours.

5. Schedule Short Breaks

In addition to scheduling long periods of time for the activities you enjoy, fit short breaks into every day. For instance, after studying for an hour, it’s a good idea to stand up and move around. You could even go for a short walk, do some stretches, or fit in a quick workout.

An important way to manage your stress is to have an apartment where you feel at home. An alternative to University of Waterloo housing is myREZ. You’ll be able to relax in your private, fully-furnished bedroom, prepare for finals in one of the WiFi study spaces, or stay fit with a visit to our onsite fitness and yoga studio. Contact us for a lease now and you could be living here next holiday season.