Helping Your College Student Navigate Stress During Finals Week
By Sarah Rogers, MA, LPC, CCTP, NCC
Finals week can be one of the most stressful times for college students. Between the pressure of exams, final projects, and the constant worry about grades, it's easy for students to feel overwhelmed. As a parent, you may not be able to take the exams for them, but you can provide critical support. By offering emotional reassurance, encouraging healthy habits, and helping with practical solutions, you can help your child manage the stress of finals week.
Understanding Stress During Finals Week
Stress during finals week is a common experience for college students. The American Psychological Association (2020) reports that stress can manifest physically and emotionally, causing symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and digestive issues. The combination of academic pressure, lack of sleep, and poor eating habits creates a perfect storm for stress. However, while stress can sometimes be motivating, prolonged or unmanaged stress can negatively affect performance and overall well-being. Helping your child cope effectively can make a significant difference in how they approach their exams and how they feel during this stressful time.
Offering Emotional Support
The most important way you can support your child during finals is by offering emotional encouragement. Finals week can feel isolating, and students may struggle with feelings of inadequacy or fear of failure. Let your child know you understand how challenging this time is and that it’s okay to feel stressed. Reassure them that their worth isn't tied to their grades and that you're proud of their hard work, regardless of the outcome.
Be a good listener. Sometimes, students need to vent or talk about their concerns without fear of judgment. By maintaining open communication, you show them they’re not alone, which can help reduce feelings of isolation.
Encouraging Healthy Habits
Encouraging healthy habits is another way to help your child manage stress during finals. The National Sleep Foundation (2023) emphasizes that sleep plays a crucial role in memory retention, focus, and overall cognitive function—something students often sacrifice in favor of late-night study sessions. Sleep deprivation can worsen anxiety and hinder performance, so remind your child of the importance of getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
Physical exercise also helps reduce stress and improve focus. Encourage your child to take short breaks for light exercise, like walking or stretching, to keep their mind and body energized. Healthy meals are essential as well—brain food like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains provide sustained energy for studying and concentrating.
Offering Practical Solutions
Time management can be a major source of stress for students during finals week. Help your child create a study schedule that breaks down their workload into manageable chunks. Prioritize the most challenging subjects and allow time for review. A structured plan reduces the overwhelming feeling of having too much to do, making it easier to focus.
Creating a quiet, distraction-free study space can also improve productivity. If your child is studying at home, help by minimizing distractions, running errands, or providing a calm environment where they can focus on their work. Small gestures like providing snacks, tea, or a comfortable workspace can go a long way in creating a stress-free atmosphere.
Conclusion
Finals week is a stressful but temporary challenge for college students. As a parent, you can help by offering emotional support, encouraging healthy habits, and providing practical solutions like time management and a focused study environment. Your involvement and reassurance can make a big difference in how your child handles the stress and ultimately how they perform during this high-pressure time.
References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Stress in America: The state of our nation.
Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/news/stress/2020/state-nation
National Sleep Foundation. (2023). Sleep and your college student. Retrieved from
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/college-students