7 Things to do Before AP Testing

     For most of us, the next few weeks of school are going to be very stressful. AP testing is coming up, and even for those who aren’t in any AP classes, finals are coming up, too. Most people are spending lots of time studying, and even thinking of doing anything besides studying causes guilt. I know the feeling; even a five minute break from studying causes thoughts like, I should be studying right now. But setting aside some time for yourself will prevent burnout and reduce some of the stress that comes with looming AP exams. To help out, I’m going to give you 7 things that I personally do to relieve some of the stress I feel this time of year. 

1. Color. No, not like the kiddie coloring books of Thomas the Train. There are lots of free coloring pages online that you can print out. Pick one and spend some time just coloring in the lines and making a nice picture.
2. Watch a Starkid musical. Starkid is an awesome theater company with hilarious musicals, and they’re all on YouTube! My personal favorite is A Very Potter Musical. Just be warned, because their musicals have some adult content.
3. Make a friendship bracelet. And yes, I am talking about the ones we all made at summer camp. If you have some colorful string and a little bit of time, you can make a really neat bracelet to keep or give to someone you love.
4. Reread a favorite book. For lots of us, starting a new book can be a bit much, so it can be easier to reread a past favorite. You’ll already know the plot and characters, so you can relax and enjoy an old favorite story.
5. Do a jigsaw puzzle. Lots of people think puzzles are boring, but they can actually be very relaxing to do. We all have old jigsaw puzzles somewhere, and spending a little time snapping pieces together can be a very calming experience.
6. Make a color-by-number. This sounds kind of weird, but there is a website called PBNify where you can load in any picture you want and it makes a color by number page. This is really fun if you like coloring but are bored with all the premade coloring pages.
7. Learn how to finger-knit. Again, sounds weird, but it works! All you need is one ball of yarn and your hands. If you don’t already know how, a quick google search will show you. It’s a simple, repetitive activity that isn’t over-stimulating but still fun and interesting.

     And that’s it!  Hopefully some of these are new to you, and maybe there are some old favorites on this list. I hope that at least one of these will help you be a little less stressed out for the next few weeks. Testing is stressful, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. I hope you have some fun with these ideas!