By Madeline Marriott ’24
As finals week kicks off, the campus community offers students a variety of resources to de-stress. Read below to find out ways to take care of your physical, mental, and spiritual health next week.
Where and when can I study on campus this week?
Skillman Library will be open 24 hours a day through Dec. 19. Book a study room through LibCal or the Gendebein Room, which has been converted into study space for the remainder of the semester.
The Bergethon Room and Fleck Wing of Marquis Dining Hall will be open for study from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 14.
Hogg Hall’s Interfaith Chapel will be reserved as a silent study space from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Tues., Dec. 13 to Sun., Dec. 18.
If you prefer to study in a residence hall, 24-hour quiet hours begin at 8 a.m. Dec. 10 and run through the end of the semester.
Students recommend these 7 study spots on campus.
Where can I take a break and unwind during finals week?
- Supplies for ornament making will be available in the Williams Center for the Arts lobby through Dec. 17.
- The E-Sports Club will host the College Hill Clash at 4 p.m. Dec. 9 in Keefe Commons. Join the festivities for mini-tournaments and casual playing of games like Overwatch, Valorant, League of Legends, and Smash Ultimate.
- Put your knowledge to the test at TNT Trivia from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Farinon Snack Bar.
- Colton Chapel will host its weekly Catholic Mass at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 11.
- Enjoy live music and breakfast cuisine served by faculty and administration at Midnight Breakfast in Marquis Dining Hall from 10 p.m. to midnight Dec. 11.
- Take part in a day of rest and relaxation at the Spirituality Wellness Fair in the Interfaith Chapel Dec. 12. The lineup includes 10-minute massages (by appointment), group meditation, group acupuncture, and restorative yoga.
- Stop by Skillman Library at 2 p.m. Dec. 13 for a cup of hot chocolate, a Lafayette cookie cutter, and Chef Jon’s favorite cookie recipe.
- Unwind at a bracelet-making session in Farinon Atrium from 12 to 4 p.m. Dec. 14.
Tips for taking care of your mental health
- Sleep. According to Keiba Bragg-Best, staff counselor and outreach coordinator, sleep is vital to performing well on finals. “It helps you overall get information and assimilate information when you get that deep REM sleep,” she says.
- Check in with yourself. Bragg-Best recommends checking to see what stress you might be holding in your body and completing grounding exercises or mindfulness activities to help relieve it.
- Take breaks. For Bragg-Best, taking breaks while studying is important both for students’ mental health and to improve the quality of their studying. “You can’t do everything, but you can do some things,” she says. “So try to prioritize what’s most important for you to get done, but also what’s most important for your mind, body, spirit, wellness, and health. Because once you take care of those pieces, the other things are easier to do.”
The Counseling Center has a number of resources available for students during finals week. Its consultation clinic, which has been running throughout the semester, will continue through the week providing a drop-in service for students to come talk to a counselor without an appointment. This service is available from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. weekdays. Students also can learn about more ways to take care of their mental health through Togetherall, a peer to peer support online community. The Counseling Center’s Instagram, @lafayettecollegecounseling, has tips for de-stressing, as well as a number of resources on its website.
For students who need assistance outside Counseling Center hours, calling the center will connect you to an after-hours crisis service.