This most dreadful time of the semester: Dead week and Finals. Is it just me or do these two weeks provoke so much anxiety, stress, weight gain, and mental unstableness? It's as if you have coasted through all semester and now right before Christmas break when all you can think about are the Black Friday deals you got, how you maxed out your credit card on Cyber Monday and how you are gonna pay for the rest of the presents you need to get.... your teachers start throwing tests and assignments at you left and right. So much so that it's like you have ADD and can't focus on what's actually going on because it's as if the world is ending.....

Yeah, if you are a college student you feel the same pain and know exactly what im talking about because this happens twice a year to you. If you are a freshmen.. bless your heart because honey its bad and you are in for a real butt kicking.

Not to fear because I have some great tips to get you through the next two hellacious weeks!

1. DONT PROCRASTINATE!!!

Start studying and doing the assignments as soon as you can so you can avoid mental breakdowns and crazy amount of unnecessary stress.

2. Take breaks.

Work on things for a couple of hours then take a break and eat, go to the gym, Netflix for an episode of your favorite show, go to the tanning bed, hang out with friends, or even have a class of wine or beer. Mini breaks help you relax and give you the energy to come back and refocus again with a clear mind.

3. Get a good nights sleep.

Try not to overwork yourself by staying up all hours of the night cramming and typing papers. Sometimes you gotta do it but try to go to bed at a decent hour and wake up early the next day. If you are well rested your body and mind will both be ready to go and will do better than they would if they were sleep deprived.

4. Have a good support system.

Study with friends that also are taking the same classes and have the same things to do as you because they understand too and can do it with you. Also talk to your loved ones. They can calm you down and give you motivation to persevere and support you.

5. PRAY!!!!!

This is the most important because somethings are just out of our control. But I have found that praying jot only comforts me and puts me at ease but helps me in my time of need. Just ask for God to give you the knowledge, strength and confidence to use when taking your exams, ask that he give you the motivation to keep going when you feel like giving up and to succeed. Dont forget to thank him!!! Pray as much as youd like but the more the better. Hes always listening.

So as dead week and finals fastly approach take these tips into consideration so you can keep your sanity and ace your exams and get As on your papers and projects!

"Continuous effort- not strength or intelligence- is the key to unlocking our potential" -Winston Churchill