The fall semester of 2016 is coming to an end, and that means one thing: FINALS. Finals week is one of the most stressful times of an undergraduate student’s career. It's where last-minute assignments are completed and turned in, final touches being placed on important term papers, and highlighters and index cards are being created for final review flash cards; on the other hand, there are students are completing avoiding work completely, with the plans to simply “wing it.” Here is my advice on getting through finals week.

Many of us find ourselves complaining that we are not prepared or that we are stressed, which only makes our mental state worse. The number one way to ensure that you crush your finals is to take the active approach, and embrace the stress and study. Many of us, more like almost all of us, get to the point where we no longer care about our grade because you know, “C’s get degrees,” but most of us cannot ignore our responsibilities, no matter how hard we try.

Prepare in advance. Most professors hand out or electronically post a course syllabus, mapping out the semester. When finals week is near, decide which exams you’ll do well on, and which ones you’ll need extra preparation for—focus on those more, but do not forget about the others. Cramming them all in one sitting is going to do more harm than good, so create a schedule for which exams to study for on different days. Sit down in a quiet area, throw some headphones on, and re-read previous chapters or look over study guides/notes for about an hour or so. If you have some friends taking the same exam, get together for a study group. This will allow you to ask others for clarification for terms or problems you are unsure of. Remember studying can only help you, not harm you.

While studying is crucial, breaks are necessary because your mind is processing so much information that it needs a break. After your preferred study time, take a twenty to forty-five-minute break by grabbing a snack, or taking a quick walk around campus, or your neighborhood. This not only removes any tension or stress, but also allows for the limbs to stretch—let’s face it, they were probably going numb.

At the end of the day, before you are ready for some much-needed rest, or in my case, a nice hot bubble bath, do something to get your mind off of finals. In my case, that’s cleaning. I connect cleaning my living space with emptying the negativity in my head. Cleaning shifts your focus from work, to the mess—no matter the size—around you. Once you’re done, you’ll feel more relaxed, and ready to completely unwind and end the day on a productive note.

Finals week can bring out the monster within people that they weren’t aware of. It is a very stressful time, but can be kept on a somewhat positive note if you remind yourself of your strengths and capabilities. Remember, think positive, and be positive.