The sisters of Alpha Phi Gamma – Iota Chapter are preparing for the dreaded: Finals Week. Yes, the Spring semester has finally reached its climax which means Iota chapter sisters along with other students are more stressed than ever. What we have learned in this contentious time is that, although it is always good to dedicate yourselves to academic success, it is also okay to take a break and make the time to take care of yourself. Iota Chapter sisters would like to share some tips for self-care that they have adopted to wind down from a long day of studying and testing. Here are a few tips for self-care: 

Practice a Few of your Favorite Things

Making time for your hobbies is important. Whether that is reading a book, tending to your garden, or going out with friends, dedicating an hour or two to doing things that make you feel happy or at peace is a great way to take care of yourself. On April 28, 2024, the Iota Chapter sisters decided to take a break from studying and spend time with active sisters and sisters of other statuses during our AAAI Picnic. Sisters of different statuses enjoyed polaroid decorating, delicious homemade food, and the company of each other. This was a perfect activity to relax right before a long week of studying for finals.

Write About it!

Oftentimes, stress and unhappiness can be caused by a buildup of negative internal thoughts. Many Iota Chapter sisters agree that journaling is a great way to release any thoughts and emotions that are plaguing you. Taking the time to purchase a cute journal and write out what you are feeling to regulate your mood or reevaluate your priorities is a big step towards ultimate self-care. This is especially important to complete before finals as it allows you to release any anxious feelings you may have about upcoming tests. Journaling can also be a reflective and uplifting activity. If you feel like your self-esteem is dwindling, open your journal and list five things that make you happy or ten things that you love about yourself. Be your own hype man before your test. The power of journaling is vast and most of all, it is easy to accomplish. Self-care can be effortless.

Self-care can be a Solitary Activity

Sometimes, self-care can really mean taking care of yourself, by yourself. As sisters, we love spending quality time with one another but socializing can be a treacherous, draining, and over-stimulating affair which are feeling not so ideal to have before finals. Taking the time to isolate yourself by meditating, reading, cooking, or doing any number of solitary activities is the perfect way to improve your personal well-being. Completing your skincare routine is probably one of the most therapeutic ways to take care of yourself. It is an activity that rejuvenates your physical and mental health while also giving you the space you need to wind down from the stress of the day. Additionally, practicing self-care alone can be liberating and allows you to free yourself from the thoughts of other people. This allows those harmful thoughts to be replaced by crucial study material, which directly translates to success when testing.

Although a relatively easy task to complete, the importance of self-care is often forgotten by the very driven and ambitious sisters of the Iota Chapter. With finals week at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas just around the corner, feelings of stress or being “burnt-out” become more frequent as we make the final push towards the close of the semester. For us, self-care is more important than ever, since doing these small activities might just be the difference between greater productivity and a deficiency in motivation. Not only does your body need a break, but your brain does too. This will more than likely translate to greater success in all aspects of life, especially your impending finals. We hope you put some of these self-care tips into practice and always remember to take care, panda bear!