Ugh, it's finals week... again. Time to painfully sign out of Netflix and cram all the material I've been ignoring for the past three months into a couple of days.

If there were ever a week to wish upon your worst enemy, this would probably be it.

And this week comes right before Christmas, as if studying wasn't hard enough to get through already.

But maybe studying doesn't always have to be so challenging. When you reach your breaking point, take a breather and try one of these ideas. They might just keep your sanity in tact this finals season.

1. Feng Shui your dorm room

Nothing rejuvenates the mind like a fresh surrounding. Why not move the couch in the left corner over to the right corner? How about putting the poster on your door or over your bed? Changing your environment changes your mentality. It creates inspiration. This is incredibly important during the winter months when people tend to fall into a depressive slump. Placing the T.V. on the adjacent wall might just give you an entirely different outlook on life… or at least a difficult question on your study guide.

2. Take the night off

After grabbing some delicious grub at one of the many unique restaurants lining the streets of Port Jeff, you can walk onto the dock and gaze at a gorgeous, Long Island sunset. To add on an even greater appeal, you can bring a little bag of heavenly dessert with you. Across from the harbor stands the Port Jefferson Frigate. It’s the perfect place to satisfy your sweet tooth. You can fill bags with a variety of candy, add endless scoops of ice cream to your cone, pick out your favorite chocolate covered snack by the pound, or topple whipped cream onto a freshly made slice of pie. Even my boyfriend, who asks for steak instead of cake on his birthday, found something to suit his fancy.

3. Exercise breaks

As you study, take a couple minutes every hour to get some fresh blood and oxygen flow to your brain. While feng shuiing your room, you can arrange a glorious yoga area. You don’t need a huge space. If your mat fits, you’re good to go! Yoga is a great way to relax the body and calm the mind. This is crucial for students, especially when the university keeps tacking on school days. Instead of sitting in class you could be holding the strong stance of a warrior or a tree.

4. Don't forget to live a little

We are very fortunate to have a train station here on campus, especially since we’re not permitted to have a car until junior year without a granted exception. You can take a train to almost any part of the island. Actually, you can take a train to any part of New York. Your wallet is the limit. If you have some extra spending money, grab your friends and explore a part of the state you have yet to see.