The fall semester is finally coming to a close! With Thanksgiving break soon approaching, and winter vacation around the corner, the feeling of impending doom is looming over our heads: finals week. It's OK to be stressed and nervous, just remember there are certain things we can do to de-stress before finals week. Here are some ideas to stay positive, motivated and prepare for a stress free finals week, (or as stress free as possible).

1. Try to stay healthy!

One of the best ways to avoid being stressed is to not be sick for finals! Emergen-C is my best friend during finals week, also washing my hands as much as possible. I try not to get too close to others too, can't risk getting sick just for a hug!

2. Go for a walk downtown!

Going for a nice walk can be a great stress reliever! There are some beautiful places to go downtown, the little shops, bookstores, health food co-op and the marina near the Naked Turtle are great places to relax!

3. Exercise.

Going to the gym or a walk on the campus bike trail can really get your mind off finals for a little while! There are also awesome fitness classes offered. Some of my favorites are spinning and yoga on Sunday nights.

4. Hang out by Hawkins Pond.

Sit down with a great book at the new and improved Hawkins Pond! If it gets too chilly, you can go inside Hawkins and get a delicious cup of coffee at Einstein's!

5. Get a coloring book.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the benefits to coloring, one of the biggest: it's a stress reliever! You can get them anywhere now of days, and they have awesome patters like mandalas, kaleidoscopes or nature! I got mine at Plattsburgh's very own Walmart.

6. Take a walk around the mall.

It's a bad habit, but some retail therapy will always do the trick for me when it comes to stress. Invest is a small gift that will make you feel better! It could be anything, maybe a new video game, chocolate, a new book, winter apparel... Or maybe just some window shopping with friends!

7. Take a trip to the movies.

While at the mall, be sure to check out the movie theater! Sometimes just sitting back and watching a movie can really help. A date with Netflix is a good option too!

8. Go to the Learning Center.

When I'm really stressed about finals, I will make an appointment at the Learning Center for a free tutoring session! Or maybe just to study in a quiet environment.

9. Make time for friends.

Relaxing with friends, or even studying, can be beneficial. When i'm feeling overwhelmed, I love to go to the Blue Room, get some coffee and sit and talk!

10. Go out to eat.

Treat yourself to a nice dinner off campus! Sometimes, a change of scenery can get your mind off school for a little bit. Then, once you're done, you can get back to studying and feel refreshed!

11. Take a day trip to Lake Placid.

If you have some free time, take a short trip to this beautiful destination! Get back to nature and visit a popular town, Lake Placid, in the Adirondacks! It's only an hour car ride away!

12. It's library time.

When you're feeling less stressed and more relaxed, you can go back to the library with confidence and get a lot of studying done! You can also take a few minutes to check out the Rockwell Kent Gallery! Finals week can be really tough, but I try to enjoy myself, treat myself and in the end feel less stressed!

Good luck with finals everybody!