Stressed with deadlines and exams? Surveys from Research.com revealed that finals and midterms were the top sources of stress for 31% of students. Sound familiar? These quick tips can help you instantly shake off your stress.
Look at Some Cute Animals
Researchers from the University of Leeds have found that watching videos of cute animals can reduce stress by up to 50%. Participants saw a decrease in heart rate and a reduction in blood pressure.
Don’t know where to start? Companion Animal Alliance, only a 10-minute walk from campus, has an abundance of adorable kittens and puppies that will instantly warm your heart.
Yoga 
Yoga helps regulate the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, which both improve your body’s response to stress, according to Stanford University.
The Urec offers multiple yoga classes each day, with different focuses for your preference. In the morning, you can take a slow flow yoga class to wake your body up and prepare for the day ahead. In the afternoon, try some yoga for relaxation, which is perfect for unraveling your stress and tension from the day. At night, the gym offers a restorative yoga class, which is deal if you’re looking to strengthen your physical health and relax before bed.
Therapy
Did you know that your tuition is paying for accessible mental health services? You can book an appointment on the Student Health Center website.
The services range from brief consultations, eating disorder treatment, psychiatric and medication management, groups and seminars and sexual assault and interpersonal violence support. 
Exercise
Exercise releases endorphins that elevate mood and improve relaxation. If you’ve ever experienced a “runner’s high,” then you are familiar with the feeling of endorphin release.
LSU offers a plethora of opportunities to exercise. For example, taking a run across the beautiful campus, weight lifting and cardio at the UREC, swimming in the world-class pools at the UREC, fitness classes, cycling classes, pilates classes and so much more. Not to mention exercising can take your mind off your busy schedule for a while.
Laugh
A fit of laughter can decrease stress by increasing blood flow and boosting immunity, according to research from PubMed Central. Don’t feel guilty for spending time laughing with your friends or watching your favorite show, even if you have a lot of work to do. You will be more productive after a good laugh, since it improves focus and productivity, making you less stressed. 
Express your Creativity
Whether you prefer to draw, paint, journal or just do a coloring page, expressing yourself creatively is a great opportunity to reflect on the stressors of your life, in a way that makes them seem more manageable.
Studies at the Sage Neuroscience Center concluded that drawing increases dopamine levels which reduce anxiety.
Declutter
As the saying goes, a cluttered desk is a cluttered mind. Is there a build-up of stuff on your desk or in your study spaces that is negatively impacting your ability to concentrate?
Cleaning off your desk can take a weight off your shoulders you may not have noticed was there. Passive distraction can be one of the worst issues for procrastinators. Just taking five minutes to organize your space can result in a massive productivity improvement.
Get Nostalgic
If the stress of finals season is making you isolated and feeling lonely, take a walk down memory lane.
Listening to your Spotify rewind from a few years ago or even looking through old pictures is a great way to remind yourself of all the fond memories you have to be happy about. It can also serve as a reminder that stress is temporary, with hard work you can get through this and get back to the nostalgic memories that inspired it all.
The most important takeaway is that you are not alone. We are all in this together, so don’t feel guilty for needing to decompress and take time for yourself.