It’s finally that time of year again. And no, I don’t mean the cheery and snowy holiday season. I’m talking about the time of year when sleep is nothing more than a coveted illusion, when caffeine is the substitute for blood in our bodies, when our internet history consists of google searches of a stripper’s salary, when you are physically, mentally, and emotionally put to the test to see if you can survive in this world. That’s right, my fellow collegiates. It’s finals week.

I don’t know about you, but I turn into a completely different (and not to mention scary) person during this time of year. The realization that I have one week to turn my not so hot grades into dazzling A’s overwhelms me, and I suddenly become a monster. I kid you not, I cried three times last semester in one night. *studies, cries when realizes career is down the drain, studies, cries because there is no point, studies, cries once again*. True story, folks.

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high school finals may seem like a big deal because if you mess up, you don’t get into college (how I miss the days of being exempt due to seniority). But if you take an F in college, you waste thousands of dollars and a future of a successful career seems almost impossible. But for some reason this semester, I am feeling highly motivated to push myself to do the absolute best (probably because my grades are right on the border line), and I am here to encourage you to do the same. So here are some tips on how to not die during finals week.

1.Get some zzzz’s. An all-night study session may seem like the only option, but it’s not. Personally, I can’t stay up all night. I get weird and delusional, so I won’t retain any information in my strange state of mind. Might as well use that time to sleep and allow your brain to recuperate; even if it’s a quick nap, every bit helps. You don’t want to accidentally miss your final because you overslept. All that studying would be for naught. And to whoever said sleep is for the weak, I’m having a much better time watching the back of my eyelids rather than trying to keep them open.

2. Take breaks- It’s psychologically proven that positive reinforcement leads to better performance and retention (guess my major is paying off for something). Don’t be like me where I study for 20 minutes and then watch 2 hours of Gossip Girl on Netflix. This is not okay. Your brain is working extra hard to remember everything that you’re studying, so give it a break. I understand that sometimes you just want to keep going and get studying done and over with. But taking some breaks will give your mind a chance to not only relax, but give it a chance to catch up on the 100 study guides you crammed into your head.

3. Get some help- The worst thing is when you have to take a final on stuff you don’t even understand, because you essentially have to fit a whole semester of unlearned content into your already-strung-out brain. Study groups, office hours, quizlet, google search. The options are limitless. If you don’t understand something, reach out. It’s a lot easier than trying to memorize lecture slides.

4. Exercise- Okay I know this is probably the last thing you want to do during finals, but all those endorphins from working out actually relieve stress. It’s extremely important for you to take care of your body, especially in time of pressure. I’m not saying you have to do a full body workout. Something as simple as lifting a couple weights or doing a few Pilate's moves is more than okay, as long as it gets your heart racing. Hit the gym before you hit the books.

5. Eat healthy...ish- Of course I encourage you to scarf down some veggies, but it’s okay to treat yourself too. If we’re being completely honest, I bought a cupcake to treat myself before the hell week begins when I didn’t even study yet. Once again, taking care of your body is super important and you need all the strength that you can get. I’m not saying that you have to go on a strict diet, but stress eating some french fries won’t help you either.

6. Relax- In the midst of dusty textbooks and mental breakdowns, give yourself an opportunity to focus on you: bubble baths, yoga, meditation, and lighting some candles. There are so many options for you to de-stress, and most campuses offer events with free food to aid in this practice. I know the stress is getting real when my eyes start to burn from staring at my computer screen and when some pimples begin to breakout. So whenever I have an opportunity, I slather on a face mask and kick back to some tunes. It may not seem like there’s time to relax, but trust me, there is.

7. Keep your eyes on the prize- Sure, you may need to get a 100% on you statistics final to get a C in the class and you may have 4 other tests to study for, but stop and take a deep breath. Final exams are overwhelming and we’re all suffering with you. But if you look at how much you have on your plate, you’re just going to freak yourself out and feel even more overwhelmed, so don’t do that to yourself. Take it one step at a time and focus because after you hand in that last scantron, you have a month of taking it easy for winter break. Good luck on your finals everyone!