As Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) students approach the last couple weeks of the semester, they find themselves scurrying to study for finals, frantically writing papers and finishing up last-minute class projects. This results in students experiencing more stress than usual.  Here are some tips for students to learn how to manage their stress.

Take a Break: Megan Lipetzky, SMSU history major, says: “It calms me down so I can think clearly.”

Taking a 30-minute break between assignments to do something fun can relax you and prepare you for the next wave of papers and tests to study for. Go out and toss a ball around, play a card game ,or even play a few rounds of Candy Crush. Just make sure you to continue studying after.

Walking: “Exercise helps you focus, it gives you additional energy, and it releases endorphins to make you feel better,” states an article by the Huffington Post.

A 30-minute walk with a friend can elevate your mood, fill a need for social interaction, and make you feel like you’re taking care of your body.

Meditation: WebMD quotes a University of Wisconsin study,showing that after eight weeks of meditation training, electrical activity in the regions of the left frontal lobe—an area that tends to be more active in optimistic people—increased.

While eight weeks may sound excessive for SMSU students now, a 30-minute pause to meditate while studying can make you feel at peace and at ease.

When the workload is overbearing, remember to de-stress yourself. Half-hearted work can result in poor grades.