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Olin offers solutions for finals week stress

December 8, 2000

While studying for finals, students should try to keep the S-word out of their vocabulary.

The word that goes along with cram sessions, caffeine boosts and 12-page papers:

Stress.

“Give yourself license to take breaks from studying,” said Jon Kermiet, a health educator at Olin Health Center. “You can only absorb so much material at one sitting. Students can definitely study too much.”

Kermiet recommends students use a variety of relaxation techniques to cut stress levels in half as the pressure rises next week.

“Basic activities like exercise, listening to music, or even watching a funny movie or taking a hot bath can help,” Kermiet said.

Students should try to get a full night of sleep before taking tests. The average college student needs six to eight hours of sleep per night to be fully rested for the next day, he said.

It is also important to eat balanced meals and avoid an excessive amount of caffeine, which can cut down on performance, he said.

Psychology freshman Katrina Taylor, who took her first final Thursday, says the best way to combat stress is to be well-prepared in advance for finals.

“It really hasn’t been too stressful for me so far. I just study what teachers recommend,” Taylor said. “Just try not to procrastinate and stay focused.”

Education freshman Andrea Karlin said students should study hard, but should try not to let stress get the best of them.

“Don’t let distractions stop you. There’s a lot of them,” Karlin said.

For students with children, Spartan Child Care Development in Spartan Village is providing free prefinals child care for MSU students until Monday. But the program already has a waiting list.

Free prefinals child care has been available at MSU for several years.

To avoid added worries and stay healthy during exams and holidays, Kermiet advises students to receive flu shots. The shots are available at Olin for $10.

Staying healthy and getting sleep are the best tips Kermiet gives to students but he said it depends on the individual.

“Students need to ask themselves what their main sources of stress are, and what would be the best way to alleviate that stress,” Kermiet said. “How you combat stress is a very unique and personal thing.”

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