It's that time of year again. Everyone is beginning the "getting ready for finals" phase that I have witnessed every semester I have been at the University of Kentucky. The favorite study location has been bombarded with sleep-deprived students and their laptops. Notes are beginning to cover the floor. All while dreadingly awaiting the all nighters that may be coming.

Does this sound like your potential finals week? These are the 15 study tips that you need to know before going into finals week that will make your life so much easier.

1. Study earlier than you think you should.

2. Go through your class notes and highlight what you think is important.

3. Create a study group and actually meet up with the group.

4. Create flashcards for those pesky definitions you just cant seem to remember.

5. Set an hour aside every week after Thanksgiving to begin studying for finals.

6. Finish your papers ASAP to allow more time to focus on the exams.

7. Swap your study guide with someone else to see if you missed anything.

8. If you are constantly busy, split up the study guide in sections with your study group.

9. If you do not know the material - ask for help!

10. Create a visual representation of class material so you can see how it relates to each other.

11. If someone is struggling, help them out! Talking about what you know is a form of studying!

12. Use sticky-notes to mark important areas of the textbook you may need to go back and look at.

13. Prioritize your studying, understand what you need to work the most on.

14. Create a list of everything you need to do! Then cross what you accomplish off of the list. It will keep you motivated.

15. DO NOT CRAM.

Utilizing these simple 15 tips will make your life significantly less stressful come that horrible week of December. I promise, it has worked for me the many times I have done these things. Even choosing a few will make your life noticably different.