It’s the time of year when exams, papers, and meetings start to pile up for college students. The last few weeks of the semester and especially finals week can add an incredible amount of stress to an already busy student’s life. Finals can be a very overwhelming time and it can be very difficult to find practical ways to deal with the pressure. Additionally, with summer on the horizon, it may seem impossible to stay focused and get work done, but these are a few ways to make finals a bit easier to tolerate.

1. Study with friends

Get a group of friends together and head to the library or the closest Starbucks to study. I always find it easier to learn material if I have friends to ask questions and help me understand. Although studying alone is a great way to focus, going off-campus for the day to do work with some friends always keeps me motivated to learn.

2. Pause and pack

With the end of spring semester also comes the time to move out of your dorm, which can be a tremendous amount of packing. When you get frustrated with studying or just need a little break, try to pack a few things up and get yourself organized for move out. This will be sure to make you less stressed after your finals are over and it’s actually time to go back home.

3. Prioritize your work

I enjoy making a to-do list of my work so I can prioritize what studying or writing is most important at that time. Final exams can be on the same day or even on a few consecutive days, so knowing which exams you need the most time to study for is essential to your success. Of course, starting to study earlier rather than later is also a key tool.