College exam week is like no other. It's so easy to get caught up in the studying and pull all-nighters and live on coffee. There's no reason for this week to be any more stressful than a normal college week though as long as you are efficient with your studying and follow these tips!

1. Clean your room!

This is probably the best way you can possibly procrastinate. This gives you the allusion that your life is together and will instantly make you feel more productive! It's a great time to be alone and focus on something other than your exams. You'll actually feel accomplished, as opposed to the regular ways of procrastinating like scrolling Twitter or watching Netflix.

2. Take a bath!

You need to bathe every day - you might as well do it in a way that clears your head and lets you relax. It doesn't need to be fancy with some bath salts or bath bombs or candles, just lay in a tub full of some hot water and do absolutely nothing.

3. Take a workout class!

No one has ever done a workout they regret. People come out of workouts full of energy and in an incredible mood due to all of the endorphins released. This is the perfect study break! University Rec Centers have great free workout classes if you don't have a membership to a studio. I also highly recommend YouTube workouts. (Try out Blogilates, Tone It Up, or Fitness Blenders)

4. Switch up where you study!

I didn't have a car freshman year so I basically couldn't leave campus. I was constantly in the library. However, now I have a car and avoid libraries at all costs. I find coffee shops to be so much more inspiring and I get more work done. There is also food and drinks just steps away so there is no reason to leave. (If you're at UA, I wrote an article about coffee shops to try out in Tuscaloosa, check it out https://www.theodysseyonline.com/5-coffee-shops-tuscaloosa here!) Whatever your spot is, switch it up. There are so many beautiful libraries, coffee shops, and buildings around you that you have yet to discover!

5. Make a to-do list including the little, everyday things!

At the beginning of the week, I make a list of everything I need to do that week. This includes little things like showering and laundry, but also bigger things that I actually need to write down to remember. I write down the little things because when I check things off, I always feel so productive and end up doing more things I need to do. It helps me to break up studying by chapter and section. "Study chapter five" feels a lot more doable than "Study Statistics for exam."

6. Revise your notes and throw away the rest!

Whenever I start studying, I always revise my notes before I do anything else. I find this to be a great way to review all of the information while making later studying much more efficient. It's much less overwhelming to study ten pages of notes you have to know versus twenty pages of notes that are repetitive or unneeded information.

7. Get a good amount of sleep!

I personally cannot function without at least eight hours of sleep and some coffee. All-nighters are not the way to go. Be efficient with your studying so you're able to sleep and be wide awake during the exam. I am personally such a procrastinator so I like to tell myself I am going to bed at a certain time whether I finish my work or not and that typically motivates me to get started.

8. Wake up early enough to review the day of!

This is probably the most important tip on here. Reviewing the day of the test is the best way to retain information and do your best on the exam. I like to wake up in enough time that I am able to review for about two hours the day of and peacefully drink some coffee and eat a snack. It's so important to feel relaxed and confident during your exam.

You can do this.