As Finals approach, and it can seem like teachers are loading on the tests and homework, life can get a little stressful. I know that, for myself, after Thanksgiving is when the the stress of Finals begins to kick in, and I start to get panicked.

Here are my own, and some others’, strategies for keeping calm and cooling down when the panic starts to set in.

As for myself, I like to clean. There’s something therapeutic about doing the dishes when I’m really stressed that just calms me down. It allows me to take a step back, have a breather and still feel productive.

I’m not the only one who likes to clean. Freshman Elizabeth Bolin also does the same when she’s feeling panicked.

“I clean my room or do another piece of homework so that I’m still being productive. Then, when I’m calmer, I can do whatever I was working on more efficiently,” said Bolin.

Another stress-relieving tactic is practicing a hobby. “I grab a ton of markers and just start to scribble and sketch,” says sophomore Lily Schumacher. “I don’t make anything complicated, and I just keep overlapping colors with little dots and scratches. It’s a lot of fun and has a cool outcome no matter what, so I’m never worried about how it looks.”

Jenn Cluckey plays piano or ukulele, because “the beat of the music gives me something constant and consistent to focus on instead.”

“I read,” recalls Delaney Butterfield. “It takes my focus away from everything else that’s going on.”

Others find comfort in talking to friends. “My friends are always able to calm me down and get my mind off of things,” says sophomore Danielle Lippert.

Another sophomore, Kelsey Mullen, practices the same strategy. “I talk to my best friend. Saying everything I’m thinking and letting someone know helps me just to let it off my shoulders.”

Listening to music is Maighdlin McHugh’s strategy. “It takes my mind off of what I’m doing,” the sophomore explains.

“I take a nap,” says Olivia Escalante Ortiz, “and when I wake up I feel refreshed and ready to get to work.”

There are many different ways to handle stress, but you should always practice what helps you and makes you feel most comfortable. Maybe next time you’re feeling panicked, try one of these strategies and see how they work for you.

What’s your stress relieving strategy? Share in the comments below!