1. Clean your room.

Trust me, you won’t be able to focus if your room is a mess anyway. Make sure you spend AS MUCH TIME as you can to get your room in tiptop shape. Do laundry, vacuum, clean your bathroom, dust and make sure your desk is virtually spotless.   

2. Bake something festive. 

The holidays are among us, and that means food. Baking Christmas cookies is a great way to take your mind off all of the stresses that finals bring. Here is some great recipe inspiration.    

3. Decorate for the Holidays.

Like I said in #2, the most wonderful time of the year is now. Finals week is the perfect week to dive head first into the holiday spirit! (Nobody likes a Grinch.) Go to Hobby Lobby and peruse the aisles until you find something you can craft and hang in your place. Studying can wait. After all, Santa is always watching!   

4. Go to Target.

The dollar section (those two short aisles right by the door) is truly “where it’s at.” Take as much time as you need filling your basket with fuzzy socks and those little silver buckets. It’ll be a great place to put your pens and pencils when you study later!   

5. Watch YouTube videos of Star Spangled Banner fails.

Laughing relieves stress. And trust me, you will laugh.   

6. Watch all of Ellen's hidden camera pranks.

Again with the laughing…isn’t that supposed to be the best medicine? And isn’t basically everyone you know feeling a little under the weather right now? Do yourself the favor and avoid illness with some preventative laughing.

7. Take a bath.

It’s cold out. Warm up with a relaxing bath. You’ll feel so calm and ready to officially hit the books.       

8. Make spa water.

It’s important to remember to hydrate, but water is just so boring. While I prefer Moscato, wine and finals week don’t mix very well. Water with fun fruits like lemons, limes and pineapple can really jazz up your daily hydration routine. Search “spa water” on Pinterest for some great recipes.    

9. Start your shopping. 

You’re going to have to get your loved ones gifts at some point. This seems like the perfect time! If you want to wait until after finals to actually buy, make a list of everyone you need to shop for and what you want to get them. This way, you won’t have to waste hours wandering around the mall later. So productive!   

10. Go out to eat with friends.

Studying is important and all, but you HAVE to eat. You could pick something up alone, or call your friends that you’re about to be separated from for a month. You’re going to eat anyway, so you might as well spend the time catching up with a friend. (Especially if anyone you know is graduating this December)   

11. Make a study schedule.

This step may be more important than the studying itself. You have multiple finals coming up within a few days. You need to know how much time you will be devoting to each subject so you don’t study too much for one class and not enough for another. Make a schedule of times and chapters or subjects you will be studying. This way, you know that every class is getting equal attention, and you won’t waste any time trying to get started.   

12. Actually study.

There is physically nothing left for you to do, so you might as well start. Best of luck and happy finals week!