Self-Care Tips & Tools to Combat Midterm Anxiety

Stephanie McClaskey

October 4, 2021

Self-care looks different from person to person. For some, it may be a candlelit bubble bath. For others, it may be curling up with a good book or getting into nature. No matter how it looks, it remains an important part of success in all aspects of life.

Midterms are this week, and the pressures to be successful are in the air. During times of high stress, self-care is even more important to practice. 

The Self-Care Tips & Tools podcast aims to equip you with ideas to put some self-care methods on your daily agenda. Ann Oesterle, a Reiki Master, and Mental Health Professional shares her experience and offers suggestions to a path of emotional, mental, and physical contentment.

“You have to fill your own cup first. If you don’t fill it up, you’re just pulling from the remnants left over.”

Ann Oesterle, our guest speaker reminds listeners

Self-care practices to assist during midterms and finals could include meditation for grounding methods, exercise to relieve anxiety, and eating healthy to ensure your brain and body are fully functioning. Though these practices seem basic, they are vital to your ability to obtain information and access it when needed. 

You have to ensure you are giving your body the proper amount of self-care so that your energies can be appropriately distributed where they are needed. Grant yourself the gift of self-care.

Designating five to ten minutes to mindful meditation and grounding benefits the mind and body tremendously. According to YouScience, mindful meditation before a test can improve your scores and help you block out unwanted stimuli, which tend to distract you from what you aim to accomplish. 

Meditation may be a foreign concept to some. Not knowing where to start can even add to your anxieties that come with midterms week. Clicking here will lead you to a five-minute meditation focusing on relaxation and stress management for taking tests. Also, feel free to check out our recently published Self-Care podcast for more tips and tools to help manage your stress and anxiety.

If you’re experiencing unmanageable stress and anxiety, be sure to utilize the free counseling available on campus. Call (309) 694-5281 for more information.