It's (Almost) the Most Wonderful Time of the Year


Thanksgiving break is over, and we're in the final stretch, where everything final is coming up or coming due: final papers, final projects, final exams. We've got three weeks of cramming, composing, and silently sobbing ahead, and some days it might seem simpler to toss your computer out the nearest window than finish that essay. But don't despair. The exultation you'll feel from watching your computer smash against the concrete is small (and temporary!) compared with the constructive stress relief offered by these books:

Everyone could use a magic bullet now and then -- and Success under stress: Powerful tools for staying calm, confident, and productive when the pressure’s on by Sharon Melnick is full of them. Kelly McGonigal explores the advantages of stress in The upside of stress: Why stress is good for you, and how to get good at it, while Mequilibrium: 14 days to cooler, calmer, and happier by Jan Bruce, Andrew Shatté, and Adam Perlman shows you how to effectively work with, rather than against, your stress.

Discover stress and time management techniques tailored to college in College rules!: How to study, survive, and succeed in college by Sherrie Nist-Olejnik and Jodi Patrick Holschuh and How to study in college by Walter Pauk and Ross J.Q. Owens.

It's important to engage in self-care, even if it feels too indulgent. Think of it as an investment -- it gives you energy for a rainy day. Learn how to work mindfulness into your everyday life in bite-sized increments with The mindfulness solution: Everyday practices for everyday problems by Ronald D. Siegel and Five good minutes in your body: 100 mindful practices to help you accept yourself & feel at home in your body by Jeffrey Brantley and Wendy Millstine. Need some more bite-sized bits of wisdom? Check out Don’t sweat the small stuff-- and it’s all small stuff: Simple ways to keep the little things from taking over your life by Richard Carlson.

Finally, don't forget -- the librarians are here to help to help! We may not wear capes (at least, not visible ones), but if your research skills need rescuing, we've got you covered.

So hang in there. You've made it this far, and you can make it to the end.