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STRESS: Finals Week Winter 2014 Edition

My Story

20+ years of formal schooling is a lot by any standard.  Ever wonder what it feels like to burn out as a grad student?   Here's a Quora thread where people responded to that questions.  Last winter, I, myself, had a rough time during finals.  My brain, and body, and spirit all went to pot after two weeks of high stress and precious, little sleep. Things weren't too different this time around...

Here are my top five indicators of stress, inspired by my deepest, most-deranged regrets during finals week this year:

1. Growing a "sensible" mustache.
I basically didn't look in a mirror for an entire week, so when I did actually leave the house (for Church) I reasoned that keeping the (BYU-approved) pedo-stache would lend me strength to finish strong, like the Nazarites of Biblical times.  Nope.  Just made me look like a creep. #CallmeSampson
2. Talking to my professors in second person (then switching tenses mid-conversation).

I spent a lot of time in my head and basically didn't speak to anyone for days.  I think this is what psychologists call a coping mechanism.  It's called slowly going insane in that Tom Hanks movie, Castaway.

3.  Posting over 1000 pins on Pinterest, instead of working on my finals projects.
Speaking of coping mechanisms, using Pinterest is a stress-reliever of mine.  For the past two years, I have maintained a very artistic, very introverted hobby of seeking out photos of creative, family-friendly costumes to inspire party-goers, convention cosplayers, and Halloween fiends.  I troll the web (in the nautical sense) in search of the very best images for my followers.  I don't know how much longer this hobby will last.  I obviously derive satisfaction from participating in this community, but it's a rather selfish way of spending time, and I'm currently looking for something else to occupy my free time.

4. Doing Completely non-sensical things, like:
  • *PERSONAL FAVORITE* Searching my phone for a Urination App, instead of just walking 10 feet to the restroom.  (I literally thought I would be able to virtually relieve myself without leaving my computer chair.)
  • Illogically assuming that watching sports while writing would help me stay awake, and thus help me complete my assignment sooner.
  • I wanted eggs with my cereal, so naturally, I cracked an egg into my bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and milk.
  • When I attempted to brush my teeth, I first attempted to apply the paste to my razor.  Perhaps that was my subconscious trying to tell me something. (See #1)
5. Absolutely zero-tolerance for "shenanigans."
My "Blue" personality lends itself to having high fidelity to my moral compass.  But after spending enough time alone, I start to believe that my sleep-deprived opinions of what is right/wrong or appropriate/inappropriate are the only correct ones.  If anyone disagrees, then they're wrong.  Isolation is a mental trip.  After a week sans conversation, I feel like a genius. I pounded out those reflection papers where I got the opportunity to impart my wisdom gleaned from the recently-completed courses.  If I review them now, I bet they'd sound incredibly narrow-minded.
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