As college students, we all know that the semester is coming to a close. This means tests, papers, and projects due for each class before you get to finally say goodbye to college life (at least until the next semester). 

Before you get too overwhelmed with end-of-semester stress, let’s focus on some fun things you can do during your last few weeks in school! The Nerdify Reviews team made a list of 10 great bucket list items that will make your end-of-semester amazing.

1. Plan an end of semester party

Celebrate all your hard work over the past several months by hosting an epic party with friends. Make sure it’s an event worthy of going down in history by planning ahead and inviting everyone you know (and don’t forget to take lots of pictures!).

Buy a Polaroid camera and set up a photo-op area for the best memories. Everyone will be able to have their pictures right away! Make sure to buy a good amount of drinks and snacks!  

2. Take a road trip 

Get out of campus and explore somewhere new with your friends. It’s a great way to unplug from all the end-of-semester stress and just have some fun together! Plus, road trips are one of those classic college experiences that everyone should have – so why not check it off your bucket list?

3. Go camping 

Whether you take a few days or just one night away from campus, camping is a great way to enjoy nature and bond with friends. Don’t forget the s’mores! Not able to leave campus? Build a fort in your living room or dorm. Not able to have a fire? Order takeout! Who says camping has to be outside, anyways? 

4 Attend a local festival or concert 

Search for local festivals or concerts taking place near your campus for an exciting night out! You never know what kind of surprises you might find at these events – so be sure to keep an open mind when attending them. Not sure if your favorite artist is coming to town toon? 

Check out ticket apps like Axis or Ticketmaster to see if anyone will be near. You could also download Eventbrite to look for local festivals or events in your immediate area! The end of the semester is a great time to discover new artists or bands that you’ve never heard of! 

5. Catch up with friends 

Whether they live on campus or far away, make sure to set aside time while you still can to catch up with old friends before the semester ends. Schedule brunch dates, go shopping together, or plan something else fun – whatever works best for both parties involved!

6. Have fun outdoors 

Even if it’s cold outside, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy nature while getting some fresh air (like sledding!). Just bundle up and spend time outdoors doing something fun with your friends before it gets too chilly outside!

7. Visit surrounding cities or towns 

Adventure awaits outside your college town – so why not explore it? Take a day trip somewhere nearby and discover what other cities have to offer that may be different from where you live now!

8. Host a movie night/game night/karaoke night 

Nothing beats good ol’ fashioned movie nights spent inside cuddling up with blankets and snacks (or maybe playing video games?). If movies aren’t really your thing though, consider hosting game nights instead – where guests can play board games like Monopoly or Cards Against Humanity until the wee hours of the morning! Or if singing is more up your alley, host karaoke night instead for some extra fun!

9. Try something new 

College is about learning new things and growing as individuals – so why not try something completely new this end-of-semester? Whether it’s picking up a musical instrument for the first time ever or simply trying out different types of cuisines at local restaurants around town – put yourself out there and give something new a try today!

In Conclusion

The end-of-semester period doesn’t have to be all about studying and stress; it can also be filled with opportunities for fun experiences as well as meaningful connections made along the way! So put away those textbooks for once and focus on living life while checking off these 9 must-do activities off your bucket list this semester before it’s officially over! Good luck crossing everything off that checklist – happy exploring! And if you need some help with your studies – our Nerds are always there for you. 

Nerdify reviews team is sure about one thing: studying is, probably, the best experience you could ever have. But you guys, let’s be honest – learning is also the most challenging trial to come through. It is not a secret that diligent studying implies overcoming a number of barriers, including emotional ones. Eventually, you feel exhausted and even sick!

Take a helping hand with this tutorial from Nerdify reviews team, which has been written especially for you — the one who cares about own emotional well-being and seeks to preserve health for years to come!

Top-5 Emotional Challenges Facing Students

There’s a bunch of emotional challenges that students encounter during their studies. But I’ve prepared a list of the most common ones for being forewarned is being forearmed.

Depression

Depression is quite a common condition in learners. A recent study suggests that around 30% of college students report being “so depressed that it was difficult to function” at least once during their studies. Evidently, it’s high time to sound alarmed, since depression is connected to suicide, the second leading cause of death among people aged 15-34 years.

Fighting depression starts with understanding signs and symptoms:

1.You aren’t getting things done at college/work.

2. You retract from doing enjoyable activities.

3. You feel unable to concentrate.

4. You rely on alcohol and sedatives.

5. You feel unhappy, disappointed, and miserable: thoughts like “I’m a failure”, “I’m worthless”, “My family/friends would be better off without me” become common.

If you have one or more of these symptoms, there’s probably a need to learn more about depression and take decisive actions against the condition.

Fortunately, there’s a number of ways to treat depression. The common ones are: medication, therapy (e.g., cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, and grief therapy), lifestyle changes: diet, regular physical exercises, and enough sleep can do wonders with your wellbeing!

Anxiety

Anxiety is another problem facing college students, while its rates are truly alarming. According to recent findings,  one in five college students has anxiety, depression, or both.

When in college, we see our life-changing at an astonishing speed! But it’s not the only reason for feeling anxious. Research findings indicate that college students spend too much of their time on social media platforms, and become addicted to their mobile phones, which leads to anxiety.

The study of Adams and Kissler (2013) found that 50% of college students woke up at night to answer a text message. The same study discovered an inverse relationship between the amount of sleep and the level of stress.

You’re likely to have anxiety if you:

1.Feel overly worried about your past, present, or future.

2. Feel apprehensive.

3. Have a feeling of powerlessness or worthlessness.

4. Have difficulty concentrating or remembering things.

You can learn more about the symptoms of anxiety here. In the meantime, keep in mind that treatment of anxiety is not as difficult as it may seem at first glance, and it includes:

1.Easing up on caffeine. Once you’ve made a commitment to ease up on caffeine, check the list of foods, since coffee and soda aren’t the only things containing this “anxious” ingredient;  

2. Scheduling “worry sessions”. It may sound crazy, but you should give time to thinking over things that make you mad.  Spending 30 minutes a day reflecting on the issues that bother you or make you stressed is more productive than feeling anxious all the time;

3. Breathing deep. Deep breathing signals your brain that you are OK. Try simple breathing exercises to boost your well-being;

4. Changing lifestyle. Eating healthy food, doing physical exercises, having enough rest and sleep are the best gifts for your mind and body!    

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are prevalent and persistent among college students. In fact, it is not surprising because young people seek to be attractive, and may resort to radical methods to look nice. One study suggests that eating disorders “are characterized by behaviors aiming to achieve or maintain slim body shape; great importance is given to thinness as a requisite of self-esteem.”

While many students use the notions of thinness and fitness interchangeably, there’s nothing attractive about physical and mental exhaustion! 

So, you should consult a physician if you have one or several of these symptoms:

1.Ongoing dieting

2. Eating in secret

3. Self-induced vomiting

4. Eating to the point of discomfort or pain

You can learn more about the symptoms of eating disorders here. Understanding the problem will help you to plan a conversation with the health provider in a way to come up with an effective treatment intervention.

Some interventions that apply to treat eating disorders are as follows: intensive inpatient care,  psychotherapy, family-based treatment, evidence-based treatment.

Of course, these are just some of the treatment interventions that help college students to improve their physical health and emotional wellness by overcoming eating disorders.

Addiction

Students become addicted to quite many things, including drugs and alcohol. Addiction can destroy one’s life, so it’s high time to sound alarm if your friend has at least one of these symptoms:

1.Slurred speech or impaired coordination

2. Engagement in suspicious behaviors

3. A sudden need for money or financial crisis

4. Built tolerance for alcohol or other substances

5. A sudden change in friends and activities

6. Deterioration of physical appearance

Did you know that addiction has become a problem on campus? Recent findings suggest that 60% of college students have consumed alcohol in the past month, 21.3% of people ages 18 to 25 consumed illicit drugs, and 3.8% young people used psychotherapeutic drugs for non-medical purposes.

Fortunately, there are many places where a college student can find help when encountering the problem of addiction. First of all, consider consulting the following addiction resources:

• National Institute for Drug Abuse
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA)
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Everyone wants their body look nice and attractive, but an intrusive preoccupation with defects (often imagined) in one’s appearance is a sign of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).

According to recent findings, BDD affects 1.7% to 2.4% of the general population. In young people, BDD is associated with a range of negative consequences, including school dropout.

It is time to consult a healthcare provider if you notice the following signs of BDD:

1.Camouflaging with clothing, makeup, hats, etc.

2. Constant comparison of body parts with others’ appearance

3. Avoiding mirrors or, on the contrary, constant checking in the mirror

4. Excessive grooming or exercising

5. Skin picking

Many students need help to overcome BDD. Fortunately, there is a range of treatment options: cognitive-behavioral therapy,  family-based therapy, antidepressant medication.

Also, students with BDD can find help by consulting the following BDD resources:

• Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation.
• International OCD Foundation.
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
• National Institutes of Health.
• Teens Health.   

In this tutorial, Nerdify reviews team tried to present a comprehensive list of mental health disorders, symptoms, and treatment interventions. However, in no way we want this guideline to substitute actual treatment! So, every time you notice one or several warning signs, consulting your physician is the best decision you can take!

Even though the lockdown is supposed to be a relief for most students, in reality, it is stressful. In order to let you feel at ease when you have just a bit of time for fun, we decided to share 5 best video games that fit the #stayhome evening perfectly. They will keep your mind focused and you can even compete with your roommates online or students from all over the world by sharing your knowledge and making new friends as you play!

Givling

Now the chances that you have heard of this online game before are not high, which only shows that the Nerdify reviews team walks the extra mile to bring you something special. Givling is an online game that lets you play off your student’s loan game. It is not only a great tool that helps to train your financial skills, but also a great resource that takes the stress away in a fun way. The game revolves around quizzes and you can win daily presents and even some money as you play, depending on success. The best part about it though is that you also receive special counseling where the fellow students discuss their tips and tell about what or who has helped them to settle down all the college debt challenges.

Eve Online

This particular game is an ideal fit for those students who study Business Management, Administration, Economics, Finances, Human Resources Management and similar disciplines. Imagine that you are running a powerful company with several branches and outsourcing located all over the world. You can spend as much time as you wish, stop and resume your gaming experience. This game is like a special CEO training tool where you can either be the company’s president or run the game as an advisor among other positions. We have found this game to be a unique chance to train our skills. As it offers helpful advice regarding a person’s management style, it is like a free additional course to keep your mind aware of all the factors leading to success.

America’s Army

Not wishing to sound too geeky, Nerdify reviews team wants to offer an online game called America’s Army. It represents recruitment and a training tool where you can create virtual missions and train your planning and organizational skills. While it is not your popular shooter, it is the only official game of the U.S. Army, so you can learn about actual training tools and practices while having your college break. There are great graphics, real-life stories, and the ways how any person can learn more about the most powerful and unique army in the world. We can only recommend you check it out if you are a journalist, a student majoring in psychology or the one who always wanted to learn more about what it takes to plan a military mission.

Fatworld

It is a great game that won’t take too much time for the students majoring in Healthcare and Nursing. Since it is not as extensive and boring as most course textbooks are, the Fatworld lets you model various situations and learn about how particular cultures or a way of life affect nutrition practices and the healthcare outcomes. You can create menus, plan different schedules, learn about social economics, and see how a healthcare specialist can become the change one wants to see. Even in our experience with Nerdify reviews, it is the first time that we come across such a game that carries important social messages.

Democracy 2

The ones who like to spend their time competing with each other or discussing how politics or elections work, this interesting online game will become a great learning experience. It is a strategy game, so if you are familiar with such gaming experience type, it will be a walk in the park with an only exception that you must either lower or increase the taxes, calculate special expenses, plan elections, participate in foreign relations with the other online players, and create your own country or a village ruling plan. Once again, it is an addictive game, yet as the Nerdify reviews team could find out, you can always save the game at any moment or resume it later. A good part of it is that some “countries” or players may change their politics while you are away, which makes it even more interesting to continue with your planning or any other activities.

Regardless of what online game you may choose during the lockdown, remember that it helps to keep your attention span active as your brain still continues to work while switching from the course information or the things that make you feel worried before the next class!