“You better not pout, you better not cry,” says Santa, even when it’s finals time. Sometimes the stress of school can make it difficult to stay in the holiday spirit. A lot of students can feel overwhelmed at the idea of studying for multiple exams while also trying to keep up with Christmas traditions.
Nobody likes a “Scrooge” around the holiday season, so while it is essential to prepare for finals don’t forget to also indulge in some holiday fun.
“I think especially around the holidays, it’s really nice to have things to look forward to,” said school counselor Ms. Robyn McNaughton.
It is more critical than one might think to take advantage of these Christmas memories and special traditions.
“It’s important to prioritize the Christmas spirit because it can improve your happiness. My favorite Marist activity to improve my holiday spirit is going to the Christmas mass,” said junior Maeve McGinnis.
There are a lot of ways to not let the strain of finals get in the way of holiday joy.
“Positive thoughts and affirmations can be really helpful, if you think positive thoughts they will get even stronger,” said McNaughton
It is not always easy to put the needs of oneself first, but taking a mental break, even if it’s just for a few minutes, can make a big difference.
“In the moment, if you’re really stressed, you could take some deep breaths,” said McNaughton.
Understandably, most students are overwhelmed during finals week. An efficient way to avoid these stresses is staying focused on work and not falling behind.
“I think one of the best ways to prevent school stress is being prepared and really focusing on managing your time,” said McNaughton.
It’s important to work hard and stay driven to do well during finals because it will feel better to be prepared and well- equipped for the exams.
There are also a lot of fun Christmas activities that are super simple to boost that holiday spirit, such as listening to Christmas music, watching holiday movies, and spending time with family.
“I love to help my mom do some holiday baking for family Christmas parties,” said McGinnis”
This week at Marist is stress prevention week, leading into next week’s final exams.
“I really enjoy the stress prevention activities during finals week, because it definitely relieves some of the stress and gives me a break from focusing on studying,” said McGinnis.
Counselors plan this week to help students. Activities int he past included therapy dogs, coloring activities, writing stresses on a piece of paper and burning it in a bonfire, and student basketball games.
“The basketball games during lunch are always a big hit,” said McNaughton.
