HOW TO SURVIVE FINALS WEEK 2010!

FINALS WEEK FALL 2010:  TAKING FIRST THINGS FIRST

SPONSORED BY: THE XAVIER-NICHOLS PROGRAMMING TEAM IN COLLABORATION WITH STUDENT UNION, SUPB, STUDENT ACTIVITIES, LITURGICAL MUSIC & MUSICAL ARTS, COUNSELING CENTER, STUDENT HEALTH CENTER, CAMPUS MINISTRY, RESIDENCE LIFE, INTRAMURALS & RECREATION, HEALTH EDUCATION & PROMOTION, GRASELLI LIBRARY, ARAMARK HE

The sponsoring departments and student organizations planned a number of programs for you before and during finals week to help you put first things first. They are designed to help you reduce stress and anxiety and to encourage behaviors that will optimize your physical, emotional and mental health which together will increase your likelihood of performing well on your final exams, papers, and projects. We hope you will take advantage of the many different opportunities available to you! 

TUESDAY, 12/7

Free massage therapy, Bernet Hall, 7-9pm

WEDNESDAY, 12/8

Free massage therapy, Reading Room, Dolan Science Center, 1:30-3:30pm
For commuter, off-campus and graduate students

Free massage therapy, Campion Hall, 7-9pm

THURSDAY, 12/9

Free massage therapy, Dolan and Hamlin Halls, 7-9pm Coffeehouse, sponsored by SUPB, Student Center Atrium, 9pm

FRIDAY, 12/10

Comedian Derek Hughes, sponsored by SUPB, Student Center Atrium, 8pm

Movie, Anime, sponsored by The Japan Society, Donahue Auditorium, 10pm 

Cozy up with RHA, LSC Conf. Room, 10pm
Enjoy holiday cookies and hot chocolate as you build your own gingerbread house! Prizes will be awarded for the best houses. Door prizes will also be raffled off! 

SATURDAY, 12/11

OAC Basketball Doubleheader as the Blue Streaks face Polar Bears of Ohio Northern, DeCarlo Varsity Gym, Women’s game at 2:00 pm, Men to follow at 4:00pm
Take a study break and cheer on our teams.  Non-perishable items and hat, scarves, gloves will be collected for SAAC food drive and the Salvation Army.  FREE Hot Chocolate to all JCU students and admission to our games is always FREE with your student I.D. Go Blue Streaks!

Christmas Carroll Eve
Special holiday concert beginning at 7:30pm, Kulas Auditorium, followed by Home for the Holidays in the Student Center Atrium at 9:30pm. Christmas Carroll Eve Mass at Church of the Gesu, 11pm; Midnight Feast in Schott Dining Hall at Midnight.

24-hour Quiet Hours begin in the residence halls at 1am through Finals Week (late Friday night)

SUNDAY, 12/12

Library Study Break:  Hot chocolate & s ‘mores, Java City in Graselli Library, 11pm-1amEnjoy a late night cup of hot chocolate and step outside in the Reading Garden to roast s ‘mores over a fire pit!

Blessing of the Brains, sponsored by Campus Ministry, St. Francis Chapel, 6pm Mass 

Grand opening of the Stress Free Zone, Atrium area outside St. Francis Chapel, 7-9pmKick off finals week and enjoy a delicious treat, activities to lower your stress and live piano music. Get some relaxing time by yourself or with your friends before the real heavy lifting of finals week begins!

Monday, 12/13

Stress Free Zone, Atrium area outside St. Francis Chapel, 7-9pm
Hang out and de-stress with your fellow Bluestreaks! Share your love with registered therapy dogs and relieve stress and anxiety.

Free massage therapy, Millor and Murphy Halls, 8-10pm

Get yer hot dogs here!, Free hot dogs in all residence halls, 9pm
Everyone needs a yummy snack when studying during finals week. Staff from the Division of Student Affairs will be walking through the halls starting at 9pm offering a free hot dog to each resident!

10 Minute Meditation, Sutowski Reflection Room at 9:30pm, Dolan Reflection Room at 9:50pm, and Pacelli Reflection Room at 10:10pm
Calm your mind and body. A relaxing atmosphere and music will be provided. No prior meditation experience necessary.

Tuesday, 12/14

We therapy dogs!, Student Center Atrium, 11:30am-1pmIf you missed out on some furry friend lovin’ at last night’s Stress Free Zone, come this afternoon for one last chance to play with the therapy dogs.

Stress Free Zone, Atrium area outside St. Francis Chapel, 7-9pm
Remember the good ole' days of elementary school recess or the glory days of the playground?  Relive the fun at tonight’s featured activity: games of four-square!  We'll also have decks of cards on hand to start up a variety of games.  If these aren’t up your alley, come and hang out anyways and chill out with your friends.

Free massage therapy, Pacelli Hall, 8-10pm

Wednesday, 12/15

Stress Free Zone, Atrium area outside St. Francis Chapel, 7-9pm
Twister, Guess Who, Connect 4, Jenga, Catch Phrase, Trouble, Scrabble, Monopoly and Life…everyone loves a good board game! Come to tonight’s Stress Free Zone and enjoy some of the old favorites!

Free massage therapy, Sutowski Hall, 7-9pm 

Thursday, 12/16

Stress Free Zone, Atrium area outside St. Francis Chapel, 7-9pm
Okay…you may feel like you’re the only one with a final on Friday but you’re not! The Stress Free Zone is still here to provide you with some yummy snacks and relaxing activities! One more day and you are home free!

RECREATION HOURS:  12/9 -12/16

Intramural Gym: M-TH 10am-1am / FRI-SUN 10am-11pm
Corbo Fitness Room: M-TH 6am-Midnight / FRI 6am-9pm / SAT 9am-9pm / SUN 9am-11pm
Pool: M-FRI 11am-1pm & 6-9pm / SAT-SUN Noon-6pm

The O’Dea Room has been reserved from 7pm to Midnight from Sunday, 12/12 through Thursday, 12/16 as a total quiet study space. 

Need a little quiet time to pray, meditate or reflect? Stop by one of the prayer/reflection rooms in Murphy, Dolan, Pacelli or Sutowski Halls or drop in either the Rodman Hall or St. Francis Chapels.

How to Limit Stress During Finals Week

• Begin preparing for your exams before finals week. Make sure you have all of the notes that you need, begin making outlines and create a study schedule that you can handle during finals week.

• Limit caffeine intake during finals week. Caffeine is a stimulant that can actually make you feel more stressed. Caffeine can also keep you from getting enough sleep.

• Be sure to get enough sleep during finals week. Not sleeping enough can make you feel more worried about your finals. It can also weaken your immune system, increasing the chance of you getting sick during finals week. This will only increase stress.

• Eat healthy during finals week. This will keep you energized for studying and keep you healthy, both of which will help you reduce stress.

• Only study for an hour at a time. After that, take a five to ten minute break. This will help you stay on task without getting frustrated or a headache from reading too much material at one time.

• Don't party at all during finals week, even if you do have an off day. This could set you back in your studying, make you sick and actually make you do worse on your finals.

• Make sure to get some exercise during finals week. This will keep you healthy during the week, help you to be energized for both studying and your tests and actually help to reduce stress. When you begin to feel stressed, go for a quick run or lift some weights. The gym is a great place to work off some stress.

By abbeyroad920, eHow Member, at http://www.ehow.com/how_2144042_limit-stress-during-finals-week.html#ixzz14tNeFz22

Healthy Sleeping Habits…Especially for Final Exams

Sleep is as important as studying for exams. While it's OK to lose sleep for one or two days, sleep deprivation eventually catches up. Lack of sleep impairs memory, alertness, and higher cognitive functions like reasoning and logic. Research also shows that the less sleep you have leads to poor concentration and mental slowing.

1. Try to cram your studying during the daytime so that you have more time to sleep at night.
2. Steer clear of caffeine. Caffeinated products can cause you to have problems falling asleep at night. Attempt to avoid any caffeine at least four hours before you want to go to sleep.
3. Drink a soothing beverage before bed. Decaffeinated tea or warm milk, or even a piece of fruit can aid you in falling asleep. You want to stay relaxed during the final exam period.
4. Plan to sleep only in the evening hours. Too many naps during the day when you are taking finals can also mess up your sleep schedule.
5. Take a short nap if it is absolutely necessary. If you do need to nap during finals, take a nap for only 15 minutes to half an hour.
6. Make a comfortable sleep environment. Reduce the amount of noise and light in your room. Also, keep the temperature comfortable for sleeping.