If the holidays and finals are stressing you out, try these calming hacks

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There’s no denying it — the holiday season is stressful. From hectic days traveling to budgeting properly for that gift exchange, all while keeping up with your regular life, there’s a lot on your plate. And if you’re a student who also has to study for final exams, this time of year can be even more stress-inducing.

So if you could use a little help finding some zen this year, keep scrolling to get the scoop on five essentials that might just do the trick.

1. Amazon Prime Student, 6-month trial for $6.49/month

Credit: ITK/Amazon

Amazon Prime Student has a bunch of awesome benefits, including free food delivery from Grubhub and up to 10% off hotels and flights. But did you know it also includes a Calm discount? Prime Student offers “exclusive savings on a Calm Premium subscription designed to help lower stress, reduce anxiety and more.” With Calm, you can access guided meditations, relaxing Sleep Stories and breathing exercises. Bye-bye, stress!

2. Light Therapy Lamp, $24.99 (Orig. $29.99)

Credit: Amazon

If the dark and dreary weather is giving you the winter blues, try a light therapy lamp to bring some “sunlight” back into your day. This top-rated lamp features three brightness levels and four timer options, and it has a rotatable stand so you can customize exactly how you use it. And since it fits in your hands, you can take this light anywhere.

3. AN Cooling Weighted Blankets, $43.99

Credit: Amazon

If stress doesn’t hit you until you lie down and try to go to sleep, a weighted blanket may help. According to Healthline, “a 2020 study by Swedish researchers found weighted blankets improved sleep in people with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and ADHD.” This 15-pound weighted blanket feels like a hug and is made with hypoallergenic cotton and non-toxic glass beads.

4. Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations, $12.79

Credit: Amazon

Is being more mindful one of your New Year’s resolutions? If so, this book of 75 Essential Meditations is a great place to start. This book tackles everything from dealing with mental blocks to managing wandering thoughts. Plus, these meditations grow with the reader — they start in short intervals (about five minutes) and gradually increase as your skills develop.

5. thisworks Stress Relieving Essential Oil Roller, $27

Credit: Amazon

This 100% natural essential oil is a blend of ylang-ylang, neroli and lavender and is designed “to alleviate stress in the mind.” Dab a little of this oil on pressure points when practicing mindfulness, engaging in yoga or working through high-stress moments. According to thisworks, “84% [of people testing the product] said the fragrance made them feel less stressed.”

If you liked this story, check out these tips on making long flights more comfortable.

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