Oh my God! Okay, it’s happening! Everybody stay calm! Finals are approaching and with that inevitably comes the stress of late nights and early mornings studying. But it’s important that you don’t completely compromise your mental and physical wellbeing in the process of preparing for finals. So in order to balance out any anxiety, here are some ways to relieve stress before finals and give yourself a breather.
Go Grab an Ice Cream Cone
Sometimes, the only thing that will fix your strained little soul is a glorious scoop (or two… or three) of ice cream. Here are some places in Dallas scooping up some of the best ice cream around.
Jenis
Located in Deep Ellum. Delicious and extremely unique flavors speak for themselves
Azucar
Located in Bishop Arts District. A Dallas staple.
Baldo’s
Located on Hillcrest ave. This scoop shop is right next to campus, so it’s super convenient for when that sweet tooth kicks in.
Van Leewueen
Loacted in West Village. Van Leewueen is opening in May, but it had to make the list since it truly is some of the best ice cream their is. Stay tuned.
Creamistry
Located on Lower Greenville and Uptown. Creamistry gives you the ability to create the flavor of your dreams. Every ice cream is made to order and super customizable. It’s where creativity meets indulgence.
Botolino
Located on lower Greenville. For when you want an Italian spin on your ice cream.
Pressed Juicery
Located in Uptown. For when you’re craving ice cream but also want some health thrown in there. Pressed has their healthy plant-based soft-serve Freeze. Made with all natural and minimal ingredients, this soft serve will satisfy your sweet tooth and give you some nutrients in the process. A total win-win.
Exercise
Sometimes getting the frustration out can come in the form of exercise. Take a walk or run around university park, punch it out at 9round, or spin your way to the finish line at SoulCycle. Anyway you choose to get moving, it’s sure to help you relieve stress before finals. And if you decide to take a class, be sure to ask about student pricing. Several studios have great discounts for college students.And some even have first-timer discounts! Here are a few studios around Dallas to check out:
Core Power Yoga
Classes range from low intensity restorative yoga to high intensity sculpting yoga
SoulCycle
Indoor Spinning
Barry’s Bootcamp
HITT and weight training
SolidCore
Pilates
Pure Barre
Barre (a workout inspired by ballet, pilates, and yoga)
Change up Your Study Spot
A change in scenery can do wonders for getting out of a rut and helping provide some new found clarity in your studies. Get out of your commons or Fondren library and check out some of these places around Dallas where you can study and grab a bite to eat or drink as well. Because sipping on an iced latte while studying is scientifically proven to make the experience more enjoyable, right? *All places listed are close to campus.
Foxtrot
A true classic. Foxtrot is great for when you want a change of scenery, but don’t want to travel too far from campus. But if you do want a little distance between you and SMU, try their Uptown location.
Located on Dickens Avenue and McKinney Avenue (uptown location)
Halcyon
A full menu of yummy food and snacks. Delicious Coffee and pastries. Wifi. Plenty of outlet. Comfy booths. Need I say more?What ore could you ask for in a study spot?
Located on Greenville Avenue
Fairgrounds Coffee
A relatively new addition to the Dallas Coffee scene, Fairgrounds is serving up great coffee and a great place to get work down.
Located on Cole Avenue
Toasted Coffee + Kitchen
A big spot with lots of places to set up shop and a menu filled with different kinds of loaded toasts and more.
Located on Ross Avenue
Have a Dance Party
Okay wait, just hear us out on this one. If the stress is creeping its way up to your eyeballs and you need a quick form of relief, whip out your phone, blast your favorite music, and let loose. Dancing has been shown to be a great form of stress relief and can actually help reduce your levels of anxiety. So lock yourself in your room and give it a try. it may just be your new favorite way to relieve stress before finals.
Go Outside
A breath of fresh air can help immensely when you’ve been stuck inside all day studying. On May 4th, SMU Student Wellness Champions will be hosting two yoga sessions on Dallas Hall Lawn at 10am and 11am – a great way to get outside! Click here to secure a spot for the event.
Scream
If all else fails, maybe you just need to let out a good scream. Yes, a scream. Check out this CCPA article about how screaming can actually help reduce your stress levels.
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