Exams are literally the worst. Fall semester, especially at the University of Minnesota is the longest thing in the world with only one short Thanksgiving break to save you. However, fear not - the countdown to the holidays has begun and with it, the countdown to the end of classes, and the end of the semester. Before you go make an adorable countdown board, take a few minutes to read these tips on how to make it through the hardest part of the semester.

1. Make a list.

The first thing anyone should do is make a list. But not just a list, a prioritized list. Prioritize it however you want—by the deadline, by how long things will take, or by how much or little you like the assignment. Some people prefer to do all of the quick easier tasks first and then the long arduous tasks, some people like to do them in due date order. Whatever your style, make sure you get everything on that list!

2. Be protective of your time.

It's really hard to not catch up with your friend for half an hour on the ending of the newest "Stranger Things" episode, but it can wait until after exam week. The easiest thing to do is forget you even have a social life (if you even had one) until the onslaught of exams has subsided. This way you can focus all of your energy and time on studying.

3. Eat healthy.

It's really hard to not stress eat all of the easy-to-grab pizza, cookies, or whatever you love to snack on, but don't do it. These snacks won't give you the energy or vitamins you need to get through this stressful time. You'll feel tired and probably less than awesome. Eating healthy is easy if you plan ahead. Grab some fruits, a handful of nuts, granola, or maybe even some yogurt, just easy things to snack on. Oatmeal is a great way to wake up in the morning, and you can even mix your favorite fruit or granola in with it!

4. Sleep!

Call me crazy, but I've never pulled an all-nighter in college. It's not worth it. No matter what, get at least a few hours of sleep in. Your memory and your body will thank you for it later.

5. Take breaks.

Taking short study breaks is actually supposed to help you retain information better. But, make sure your breaks stay under five to ten minutes. You don't want to get distracted!

6. Give yourself a few minutes to disconnect.

Go get your favorite coffee, sit down with a good book, google some cute doggos. Just give yourself a few minutes to de-stress. It's good to do that once or twice a day just to keep your sanity. Take a few deep breaths and ignore everything weighing on you for 10 minutes. But, make sure you get back to work right after.

7. Go outside, walk around.

Sitting cooped up inside all day is no fun. Go outside, get a little of that sunlight that comes all too infrequently in Minnesota and walk around for a little bit. The exercise will feel good and get your blood moving. It's a good way to wake yourself up from that studying fog too.

8. Silence your notifications.

Go ahead and put your phone on silent or do not disturb. It will keep your phone from distracting you all of the time, and if someone really needs to get a hold of you, they'll call. The great thing about this setting is that it turns off if someone calls you twice, that way you still hear the important calls.

9. Use your resources.

Schools have such great resources for writing papers, study groups, and even de-stress events. The University of Minnesota is great about these. Make sure you read all of your study guides, and go talk with your TA's. They are magical human beings sometimes. Sometimes they're fire-breathing dragons of bad grades, but you'll hopefully know which category your TA falls into by now.

10. Verify the details of your exams.

Just double and triple check the days, times, and room locations of your exams. Don't make a terrible mistake and miss an exam.

Follow these tips and you're sure to have a slightly above average exam week experience!