Finals week is here! We know that a lot of students are dealing with feelings of stress and anxiety, especially due to the challenging times we are facing with COVID-19. Although we can’t be together for on-site stress bustin’ activities this semester, Falvey is here to support you when you need it most. Whether you are looking for last-minute research assistance from a librarian, help navigating the library’s resources or just a general boost in the right direction, we have you (virtually) covered!

In order to combat test stress this semester, we are proud to present our first-ever virtual pet visit. So, be sure to take a break, press “paws,” and join us via Zoom for a virtual pet visit featuring some of Falvey Library’s furry friends. You’ll have a chance to meet  Lemon, DeLune, Henrietta, Claude, and Jesse, on Tuesday, May 5, from 12-12:30 p.m. Join URL: (Villanova email required for entry).

More information about our (wild)cats and dogs can be found here.

In addition to the virtual pet visit, please check out some additional resources below to help you reduce your stress, lift your mood, manage your workload, and stay positive during finals week.

Art
Falvey’s Villanova-themed Coloring Pages
Free MoMA Art Classes

DIY Fun
Stress Relief Crafts
Make your Own Stress Ball
DIY Bookmarks

Music
List of Live Concerts via NPR 

Culture
Broadway Plays

Games
Board Game Arena
Brain Teasers and Trivia via Briangle 

Exercise, Meditation, and Mindfulness
Practice yoga from Yoga with Adrienne
Guided Meditations with Tara Branch
Pixel Thought Meditation Tool
Koru Mindfulness
Tips to Think Positively from the Mayo Clinic

Eating
Publix Online Cooking Tutorials

Apps to Check Out
12 Apps to Help You Beat Stress from This Way Up

Podcasts
Stress Relief Podcasts

Virtual Tours
San Diego Zoo Live Cams 
Tour a National Park with the National Park Service
Association for Public Art’s Virtual Art Tours in Philly

Please also check out these helpful Villanova University Resources:

Health/Well Being
Health Promotion’s Guide to Stress Management 

Student Health’s Campus Well

Research Assistance
Consult with a Librarian via email or Live Chat.

If you are feeling overwhelmed and need additional support, please contact the Patricia B. and Gary M. Holloway University Counseling Center.

Remember, the Falvey Virtual Library is open and ready to help. Good luck with your finals, Wildcats!

Hey all you (wild) cats and kittens! Do finals and work have you feeling stressed? Take a break, press “paws,” and join us via Zoom for a virtual pet visit featuring some of Falvey Library’s furry friends. You’ll have a chance to meet Lemon, DeLune, Henrietta, Claude, and Jesse, on Tuesday, May 5, from 12-12:30 p.m. Join URL: (Villanova email required for entry).

Lemon (with Caroline Sipio, Access and Collections Coordinator)

Lemon is a zesty miniature wirehaired dachshund! She is little and bright, loves to roll in the grass, and chase leaves as her mini beard rustles in the wind.

DeLune (with Caroline Sipio, Access and Collections Coordinator)

DeLune is a longhaired miniature English Cream dachshund. She likes to sunbathe, cuddle, and loves meeting new people and their dogs at the park. Don’t let her small size fool you—she is the life of the party!

Henrietta (with Deborah Bishov, Social Sciences and Instructional Design Librarian)

Henrietta is an eight year old tabby cat, rescued from Philly ACCT, who might be part dog. She’s an irrepressible ham who enjoys meeting new people, giving nose-butts, and flopping.

Claude (with Deborah Bishov, Social Sciences and Instructional Design Librarian)

Claude is a twelve year old tabby cat who’s a lovable curmudgeon. He interprets sneezes as conversation and enjoys squirrel-watching from the window.

Jesse (with Joanne Quinn, Director of Communication and Marketing)

Jesse is a 6 year old golden retriever—a real floofer for sure. He heckin loves string cheese and leftover ham. All the hoomins in his family are Nova grads. Only teh cat is not a ‘Cat. If you have pizza crust, he will be your fren. [Translated into doggo lingo].

Attendees are free to bring their own pets, but please note that furry friends are not required—all are welcome to come check out the animals. Upon entering Zoom, attendees can choose whether to keep their microphones/audio on or off, depending on whether they would like to interact with the animals and attendees or simply observe. The event will be moderated by a library staff member, so please feel free to also use the chat feature to ask any questions if you do not want to unmute yourself.

Feeling the stress? Let us lend you a helping “paw”—unwind and grab that extra boost you need to finish the semester strong! This event, sponsored by Falvey Memorial Library, is free and open to all Villanova students, faculty, and staff.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library. Regina Duffy is Communication and Marketing Program Manager at Falvey Memorial Library.

I’m Daniella Snyder, a second-year graduate student at Villanova University, and your ’Cat in Falvey Library’s Stacks. I’ll be posting about academics–from books, to research, to study habits and everything in between–and how the Falvey Library can play a large role in your success here on campus!

Wildcats, it’s the Final(s) Countdown. *cue rock song*

Falvey believes that paying attention to your mental health becomes increasingly more important during these few weeks, which is why we are hosting a bunch of stress relief events in order to help you stay happy and healthy.

Mark your calendar with these:

Thursday, Dec. 12, 1-3 PM, Holy Grounds: Vinyls for Finals

That’s right, we’re back with Falvey’s famous semi-annual stress bustin’ event. This year’s event will feature a soundtrack from vinyl records, pizza, and games!

Thursday, Dec. 12, 4-6 PM, Speakers’ Corner: Stress-Relief Scrapbooking

Come take a break from finals stress and create a scrapbook with your own photos and art supplies, provided by the yearbook/CAT.

Friday, Dec. 13, 12-2 PM, Room 205: Happy Healthy Hours/Pals for Life

You know the deal. Therapy. Dogs. Cuddles.

Beyond hosting these events, we want to make you that you know how to cope with stress on your own, especially during hard times. Follow our list of advice to make your finals a little more manageable.

1. 1. Plan, plan, plan. Research has made it clear that stress can be managed through planning. Make daily and weekly to-do lists, set reminders on your phone, or use a handy paper planner. Personally, I make every large assignment due date as the first “event” in my Outlook calendar, so when I wake up in the morning and look at my schedule, I know exactly what’s due that day.
   2. Meditate. It’s obvious that meditation has incredible health benefits including clarity of mind, reduced anxiety, and minimal stress. Can’t sit still that long by yourself? Use the app Headspace (free to download!) to guide you through 5, 10, and 15-minute meditation sessions.
   3. OHIO. No, not the state. It stands for “Only handle it once.” Don’t think it’s a big deal if you let that email sit for a few days? Wrong. Having a million tasks– even if they’re small– is like having a million mental tabs open. If you remember that you haven’t spoken to your family in 2 weeks, don’t put it on the ever-expanding to-do list. Only handle it once…meaning, just do it immediately. Keeping a short list of things to do will reduce your stress in the long run.
   4. Positive affirmations. Instead of just checking things off a to-do list, people can often find it beneficial to write an “I’ve Done” list. Write a list of things you accomplished that day, along with things you did really well. Even if it’s a small task (like taking out the garbage) reminding yourself of your accomplishments can have seriously positive effects!
   5. Spend time with friends. Isolating yourself is guaranteed to amplify all negative and stressful emotions you have during exams week. Eat with people, study with people, get coffee with people. Do not (I repeat: do NOT) lock yourself up in your room or apartment alone. You need your people, especially when things get tough.
   6. Sleep, eat, and shower. While this seems obvious, students often fail to prioritize basic human necessities during stressful academic weeks. Please…take care of yourself. Sleep 7-8 hours a night, drink your water, eat food, and shower. Your body and mind will thank you when this is all over.
   7. Seek counseling. If you feel like college always makes you finals-level stressed, you might want to consider talking to a professional about more effective and long-term ways to manage stress or anxiety. Visit the Counseling Center’s website here.
   
   
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Looking for some stress relief? Save the date for these events:

Where Is the Love Wednesdays/Stress-Free Healthy Happy Hours

We’ll welcome our furry friends from Pals for Life in room 205 on Wed., Dec.4, from 3–4 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 13, from 12–2 p.m.

Vinyls For Finals: Semi-Annual Stress Bustin’ Open House

Now playing: stress relief. We’ll be serving FREE pizza and spinning your favorite albums on our record player on Thurs., Dec. 12, 1–3 p.m. in the first floor lounge.

In need of some last-minute research assistance? Contact your subject librarian!

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.