It’s that time of the semester we’ve all been looking forward to...Finals! With finals comes countless hours of sleep deprivation, tons of caffeine and energy drinks, and of course, stress and anxiety. It’s almost summer which makes it even more difficult to focus and study for finals. How can we stay focused and minimize our stress during this time? Below are 5 tips that will help you get through the last couple weeks of the semester and help you get the most out of studying while not hating your life at the same time.

1. Get Enough Sleep

So many college students do not sleep during finals and think pulling all-nighters is a great idea but it’s actually a terrible one. Hundreds of studies have established that sleep loss impairs various cognitive functions and behavior, including attention, cognitive speed, memory, emotional intelligence, and decision making. You’re not going to retain the information you study for if you are sleep deprived. Getting enough sleep is crucial to remembering what you’ve studied.

2. Exercise

Exercising improves our memory and attention and overall health. Aerobic exercise has the capacity to exhilarate and relax, to provide stimulation and calm, to counter depression and dissipate stress. Getting your heart rate up leads directly, and immediately to improved focus and concentration. Yoga for example, is a perfect workout that helps fight stress. You'll also find the more exercise you do, the better mood you're in and working out is one of the best ways to relieve stress.

3. Manage Your Time by Making a Study Schedule

Time management is probably one of the most difficult tasks for college students. Studying at regular hours increases concentration and instills a sense of discipline. Having a study schedule also reduces panic that comes with stress because you feel organized and in command. Whether you plan on studying between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. or 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. make sure you give yourself little breaks here and there. You can also make time for relaxation and leisure but having a study schedule will maximize your efficiency and decrease your stress.

4. Put your Phone Away!

As obvious as this one may seem, not many of us actually do this. As much as I try to take my own advice and put my phone away, it doesn’t usually happen. Most of us check our phone every 5-10 minutes while “studying” but i’m sure we all know it is the biggest distraction. When I've actually put my phone away for more than 30 minutes, I get so much accomplished. Just put your phone away and you will increase your productivity which as a result, will help you relax.

5. Take a Walk or Jog Outside

As I mentioned earlier, it is so hard to focus when summer is coming and it we are beginning to have more and more beautiful days. No one wants to stay indoors studying when it is so nice outside. After spending a few hours studying, give yourself a break and go outside for a walk or a jog. Don’t deprive yourself of enjoying the weather. . Walking improves blood pressure, and gives you mood-boosting endorphins.