With finals approaching quickly, a lot of people may be stressed and in need of a break at the worst possible time. Though it is important to study and prepare, it is also important to have balance.

5 Tips For Finals:

1. Go take a walk: If you need a break, get outdoors! A ten minute walk outside will allow thoughts to drift away and make it easier to focus when you come back.

2. Socialize: Be sure that as well as studying, you leave time to communicate with others. This is a great way to relax and a little bit of social time may put you in a better mood. This in turn could help focus on work!

3. Keep It Clean: Working in a clean space helps create order. Decluttering your work space will create a more focused environment. And in turn, create more effective study results

4. Refuel Properly:  Finals week is rough enough as it is. Eating healthy is an awesome way to ensure that your body is running at peak performance! Healthy Brain Foods listed here

5. Sleep: Getting enough sleep is crucial to success. Going to a final exhausted will potentially lower scores on subjects you actually studied for! Your mind will thank you for getting a solid amount of sleep. (Your grades will too)

5. Schedule Everything: Around finals time be sure to bring your planner everywhere. Schedule in times to study for specific subjects, and for relaxation and social time. When everything is laid out in an organized way, it declutters the mind and allows for clear and focused thinking. You can also use an online calendar if you don’t want to carry a planner with you.

Tonight marks the last Documentary Thursday of Earth Month. At 7:30 in Bensen 115 there will be a showing of Tapped. This film takes a closer look at the water bottle industry and asks the question “Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right, or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce?”

This is obviously a big issue in the world we currently live in. Though we do not necessarily struggle with a water shortage in Minnesota, it is an issue that raises concern. What is the real price of every bottle of water purchased? Is it simply a question of sticker price? Sadly, the real cost is much higher.

Today we celebrated Earth Day with a bunch of cool activities. There was live music, a drum circle, a farmers market, drawings for prizes and sustainable meal options!

The farmers market involved some pretty awesome arts and crafts, and a lot of locally produced goods to be purchased. Students won really cool prizes, and the live music was pretty awesome!

The day is not over yet! Tonight at the American Indian Resource center at 5:30 there is a presentation on Local Water Quality Issues. There will be lots of information on Lake Bemidji, as well as other water sources in the state and around the area. It should be lots of fun!

Also, there are a lot of cool events happening later this week.

Tomorrow will bring a Geocaching adventure! From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be a GPS check out and bike rental available at Lakeside. There will also be a Grease Waste Presentation at the AIRC followed by North Country Trail Presentation.

Thursday at 5:30 p.m. there will be a Traditional Skills Workshop on Safe Water Treatment. Sign up for this in The Sustainability Office! There will also be a documentary once again at 7:30 p.m. in Bensen 115!

Friday is the Lake Shore Clean Up at 3. Sign up is also in The Sustainability Office and the group will meet in the Bangsberg parking lot. There will also be a Beach Party: HMU After Hours at 9 p.m. in Memorial 100.

Saturday there will be a 5K & 10K at 9 a.m. Participants will meet at the rec center lobby to Stride Into Spring!

Keep the Earth Month spirit going as we head towards the end of April and have fun with all our events!

Earth Month is upon us, and there is a lot going on!

We started this month-long celebration with a documentary last Thursday and the Undie Run yesterday. Both went very well, but this is just the beginning. Today many from the office are presenting at the Student Achievement Day! There is opportunity to learn about what the green fee goes to, and also what projects are currently taking place at BSU.

Also, at every Earth Month event you will have the opportunity to put your name in to win a bike. A brand new, amazing bike!

Basically, there is a lot of super awesome stuff happening. The Sustainability Office will be updating  a lot to keep you in the loop, so be a part of the awesome events and support the Earth!