As finals week rolls around and the semester nears a close, we all know the inevitable is coming. Remember all those philosophy readings you decided to skim for the past 16 weeks? How about all those biology concepts you only memorized because you just needed to know them for that one exam? And of course who could forget about that one class you’re taking this semester that you’ve just been inching by in, but truly have no idea what is going on? Well, shortly all that information you have been taught for the past semester will all be condensed into multiple exams: finals.

With finals comes immense amounts of stress and anxiety, as one tries to cram as much information into their brain as possible in a short amount of time. Students face extreme pressure to do well and know that these next couple days are crucial: it’s focus time.

With the heavyweights on students shoulders to succeed, many turn to prescription drugs such as Adderall ,a drug used to treat those diagnosed with ADHD, to help them stay focused during this crucial time. Some think that turning to these drugs is the only answer to help them succeed, but there are so many more ways to cope with the stress during dead and finals week.

1. Have a dance party.

What better way to cope with stress than to shake it all off by having a little mini dance party? You can take a break from all that studying and play your favorite music.

2. Go for a walk.

You're pretty much guaranteed to feel better after getting some fresh air, so make sure you put down the books and get out! Even if it is just going for a walk for a bit, it's good to get the blood flowing and get your concentration back.

3. Eat right.

Yes, it is very easy to fall into the trap of eating poorly when exams are around the corner, but it is better for your focus and your brain to eat healthy! (Of course, it is always OK to indulge a little bit.)

4. Go to the gym.

Time to blast all your favorite tunes and run out all of that negative energy! Whenever you're feeling stressed head to the gym and really take a break from all that hard work you've been doing. You'll feel great afterward.

5. Remember to sleep!

While cramming for that test and pulling an all-nighter may seem like the best option, getting a good nights sleep before a major test will actually improve your score. Sleeping improves your memory and will have you feeling all rested on the day of your exam. Taking an exam on little to no hours of sleep will just set you up for feeling even more stressed.

6. Plan ahead

Make a to-do list of everything that you have to do before finals. It may seem like a lot, but crossing off everything that you have done once it's completed will be the greatest feeling of accomplishment. Pretty soon, you'll have everything crossed off!

7. Study with friends.

Its true that you learn more from others than you would just studying with yourself! Two minds (or more) are better than one, and you'd be surprised how much you know by teaching others information yourself. It will also help you stay focused if you have a scheduled group study session.

8. Talk to your friends!

Your friends are undoubtedly going through the same amount of stress that you are. As they are in college too, they know exactly what you are going through. They will be there for you just as you will be there for them.

There you have it, eight healthy ways to cope with your stress during the most stressful time of the year. I know we will all make it through the last couple of weeks of the semester. Remember, we're all in this together.