For many people, finals week is one of the most stressful times of the year. However, you’re not going to be doing your best on your exams if you’re super stressed and unfocused. I think it’s important to schedule in time to destress. Most people will tell you to make time to sleep and eat, which are obviously important things to do, but I think it’s important to make time to do something fun too. Finals week doesn’t have to mean studying non-stop, it can also be some of the best time to do fun things with your friends to take your minds off the stress.

In this third installment of my finals week series and Day 9 of #HBJblogmas, I’ve got 5 ideas for things you can do during finals week to destress with your friends! If you want to read the first two finals week posts you can read them at the links below!

Finals week: How to stay sane

Finals week: Your ultimate library survival kit

Have a movie night

This is one of the most basic bonding activities you could do with your friends, but there’s a reason why it’s a classic. Movie nights are super fun and can be combined with other activities too. If you and your pals are 21+ you can have a movie and wine night, people of all ages can do movies and ice cream, or my personal favorite: a movie and crafting. My friends and I have been really into painting canvases for our walls ever since our freshman year, so a lot of the time when we get together we end up painting! A couple of weeks ago we all got together to order pizza, watch High School Musical, and make some new decorations for our walls. I definitely recommend watching movies from your childhood for the ultimate destress event. There’s no way you can be stressed out if you’re singing “Bop To The Top!”

Do your Christmas shopping

Now this might get tricky if you have to shop for your Secret Santa, but as long as you’re sneaky about your presents, doing your Christmas shopping with your friends is always a fun pastime. Hit up your best local shops and pick up some great presents for your family (if you’re still struggling with gift ideas for your parents, check out my post about what to get your parents for Christmas) and make a day out of it. I love to pick up a hot chocolate and browse around the small businesses of Colonial Williamsburg for unique gifts. If you treat it like an adventure to find the most unique gifts from the most unique shops, you and your friends will be able to destress and you might find a new favorite local business!

Go on a hike

Some of you might be a little more athletic and outdoorsy than me and my friends. If you’re somebody whose idea of destressing involves going to the gym, maybe you and your BFFs can try going for a hike. Where I live, early December is a great time to go hiking because the weather is brisk enough that you won’t overheat, but not so cold you’ll freeze to death. From what I know, science says we should be spending more time outside if we want to be less stressed, so a hike with pals during finals week sounds like a great way to do just that!

Take personality tests together

No matter how much stock you put in personality tests, there’s no doubt they’re fun to take! I love the Myers-Briggs (I’m an INFJ if you were curious) and there’s so much out there to read about it. I definitely recommend sitting down with your friends and each taking the same personality test and then analyzing your results together. Maybe my friends and I are just super nerds, but it’s something we love to do from time to time. (We’ve been super into horoscopes/astrology lately. I know it’s all nonsense, but that doesn’t make it any less fun!)

Have a holiday photoshoot

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like I can never have enough nice photos stored up for Instagram content. A couple weeks ago, I decided to have a holiday photoshoot with my friends. It’s an easy way to take a break from studying. Put on a nice sweater, find a scenic spot, and just snap away on your smartphone. It’s a super fun way to get your mind off of studying and you also get some nice photos of yourself out of it — definitely a win-win in my book!

{What’s your favorite way to destress with your friends during finals week? Leave me a comment below and tell me!}