Ahh. Finals. It is that time of year for many college students. At this point, most college students regret procrastinating that paper that needs to be completed. It’s a glorious week of spending lots of time in the library, downing three to five coffees a day, sleeping about four hours a night or just staying up all night cramming, crying, having mental breakdowns and everything in between. With all this lack of sleep, typing, writing and studying comes a lot of stress. There is so much to do. It tends to drain your energy and makes your procrastination even worse. The best way to avoid all of this is by doing some de-stressing activities. This will help you feel a ton better and might even wake you up.

1. Get Organized.

Making a plan or rough guideline helps keep you on track. First make a plan on what is due and when. Then figure out which tasks have priority. This reduces stress because it cleans up clutter and can also let you see how much time you have left for yourself.

2. Eat mood-boosting foods.

Honestly who doesn't love to eat their favorite snack? It makes you feel so happy and calm. Eating cookies, candy, ice cream and more indulgent carbohydrates boosts your mood almost instantly. You should eat them in the correct portion size however, because eating too much could stress you out as well. This should become a reward.

3. Take a hot bath or light a candle.

Setting the right mood can help relax you after a long day. What a better way to underwind than by taking a hot shower or bath. If you take a bath you should use a bath salt or bath bomb. It’s the aroma that relaxes your brain and calms you down even more. Lush and Fragrant Jeweler are two amazing stores to find bath bombs and candles.

4. Study with friends.

This could be a good or bad thing but normally it is a good thing. Hanging out with friends relaxes you in general. Studying with them is the same thing. Going to the library with friends is lot better than going alone. They can help encourage you to keep going and and never give up. They can also help you study. Even getting a simple hug can improve your mood and offer you so much comfort.

5. Getting sleep.

Many of you might find this next statement a shock. Normally, the average college student will pull all nighters and pound coffees and energy drinks. This is not a smart idea because an excessive amount of coffee can lead to increased anxiety and an upset stomach. Pulling all nighters can lead to a lack of concentration and can make it harder to retain your energy. It would be just as effective to sleep and then study, rather than staying up all night studying.

These are just a few ways to reduce some stress. Some people will play music as they work and others will turn off their cell phones and notifications. Some people will stretch, go for a short walk or even exercise at the gym. Others might take a 10 minute break and play on their phone. The most effective way to reduce stress is to stop what you’re doing for a second and take a big deep breath.