Finals, Feelings And Festivities: A Guide To Coping With End Of Semester Stress
Marshall Alvarado | Nov. 25 2025
A view of the Warren Wilson College (WWC) Garden Cabin porch in Swannanoa, N.C. (Neko Heinrich/Echo)
As the festive holiday season gets closer, so too does the annual stress that comes with it. Whether it be because finals are around the corner, or being aware of the amount of family that will be visiting over break and asking how college has been going as you sit there recovering from the burnout of the semester, there are plenty of reasons to need to unwind. Whatever the source of stress may be, we can all agree that it’s essential to take some time for ourselves to recover and stay sane during this busy period.
For the average college student, stress can manifest in various ways, each unique to the individual. For some people, stress shows up as a sense of exhaustion or digestive issues; for others, feeling tired, unable to rest or socially isolated.
These stress-related symptoms lead to our immune systems becoming weaker, which doesn’t help during the flu and cold season, along with other viruses and mold-related issues we are currently experiencing on campus.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) suggests many self-care tips, such as the basics of eating regular, healthy meals and staying hydrated, making sleep a priority and staying connected with friends.
But it’s easy to get carried away and not even think about any self-care in the midst of studying for final exams and keeping up with assignments. This is why it's crucial to set some time aside to focus on oneself.
For me, I always try to study in intervals. For every 30 minutes of studying, I give myself five or 10 minutes in between work to relax and grab a snack, use the bathroom, drink some water or just reconnect with my surroundings. This technique is more commonly known as the Pomodoro study method. It lets me stay focused but not consumed in my work so that I don't go on autopilot, where I would normally end up forgetting how much time has passed and neglecting to take care of myself. I would recommend this method as it helps me quite a lot when I feel overwhelmed. Studying works differently for everyone, so it’s always good to figure out what works best for you!
Beyond studying strategies, there are many things that you can do to help navigate school-related stress. Although it may seem frustrating not to spend as much time studying, it is necessary to step away every once in a while to reconnect with friends, engage in relaxing hobbies or go on a walk around campus to get a breath of fresh air. Staying in your dorm to get work done can be tempting, but there are many lovely places where you can work around the Warren Wilson College (WWC) campus, including the Pew Learning Center & Ellison Library and Owl’s Nest Café.
Outside of the campus, how would you deal with the holiday stress? For many, holiday stresses stem from going to multiple events, the financial burden of gift giving or receiving, expectations for hosting events, constant proximity with family or travel. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) suggests that one finds time to decompress between events and focus on maintaining regular routines amidst all the holiday festivities. Additionally, they say that asking for and accepting help is a good way to help manage any overwhelming sense of responsibility.
From my experience over the years, I believe it is essential to emphasize the importance of boundaries. If you don’t want to attend an event, you don’t have to; you are allowed to make decisions and choices for yourself. Also, it is not your responsibility to deal with family members who try and bring up sensitive topics intentionally. Most importantly, you are not obligated to share information about your life that you don’t wish to share with others, even if they are family. So enjoy the festivities in whatever way you find most comfortable and carefree, whether that is surrounded by family or friends in an upbeat environment or a quiet, small gathering with those closest to you.