It is the fall semester home stretch, and students across campus are preparing for final papers, projects and presentations.
On Tuesday, USC’s Leavey Library hosted stressed-out students like Lily Alinaghizadeh, a senior global health major.
“Anxious right now,” Alinaghizadeh said, describing her mood. “I have my little to-do list. I’m just breaking it up and trying to take it day by day.”
The sun, she said, helps her feel less depressed and more connected to a world outside of textbooks and flash cards.
“What I try to do is dedicate an hour a day just for doing whatever I want to do, whether it’s going on a walk or just doing nothing,” Alinaghizadeh said.
It’s important to remember some of these essential self-care tricks during finals, according to USC’s Chief Health Officer, Dr. Sarah Van Orman. She said it’s important to prioritize eight to 10 hours of adequate sleep, physical activity like going to the the gym or taking a walk, and healthy eating habits during the home stretch.
“Those are all really key to keeping your stress down during this period,” Dr. Van Orman said.
Grace Okafor, a senior law, history and culture major, said she doesn’t feel overwhelmed yet. She credits her seniority for how she’s learned how to manage this time of the year.
“I watch a movie, I take a nap, I just go to bed. Close everything out,” Okafor said. “Once I’m tired, I just stop. That’s the number one thing I do.”
Something seemingly practical, like sleep, is one thing students often miss, according to Dr. Maddie Eccleston, a licensed clinical psychologist and Dornsife embedded therapist.
“Sleep is so productive,” Dr. Eccleston said. “You’re intaking all this information and sleep gives your body and brain a chance to actually retain the information...I’m not going to shame anyone for pulling an all-nighter. I know it happens. But try to decrease that as much as possible, and really prioritize your sleep.”
Dr. Eccleston is part of a group of embedded therapists at USC available to students.
Master of Social Work graduate student Lauren Hart likes to study alone, but she doesn’t forget about the importance of refueling with loved ones.
“I think because my method of studying and getting things done is more isolating, I prioritize social time as my outlet,” Hart said. “Similar to how I block in time to study and do assignments, I block in time to be social.”
Time for friends is especially important, Eccleston said.
“Finding those moments with friends is really helpful,” she said. “Whether it’s group studying, a study break to spend time with friends, eating meals, calling a friend, sending each other memes. It may be simple and fun that can break up the intensity and stress a little bit.”
It will be a busy time for students, professors, therapists and librarians across campus. Eccleston says academic success is important, but it’s important not to forget about the rest of you, the human.
“The moments in which I feel like the most like proud as a therapist working with students during finals week is when they can allow to kind of shift their perspective and realize that their academic success does not define their worth,” Eccleston said. “When they realize, ‘This stress that I’m experiencing is temporary and I can get through this. I am resilient.’”
Here’s a guide on Counseling and Mental Health Resources at USC and up-to-date USC library hours.