We all know that finals week is the time all hell breaks lose. You're stressed out, haven't slept for 72 hours and can't remember when the last time you showered was. Survival seems beyond reach, but you have to push through. Failing is not an option. I understand you pain fully. Here are six ways to take care of your health during finals.

Don't sacrifice sleep

I know that cutting sleep short may seem like a necessary sacrifice in order to free up more time for studying. That's the worst possible idea. Take a page from Arianna Huffington's book and follow her recipe for a great night of sleep. The biggest mistake you're making right now can be easily fixed - put your phone down. A staggering 71% of Americans sleep with their smartphone in their hand. I used to be one. This is incredibly disruptive to the sleep cycle, so do yourself a favor and turn all screens off at least thirty minutes before bed. You'll feel refreshed the next day and perform better.

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Stock up on healthy food before finals begin

If you think that you'll have time to shop or even go to the dining hall during finals week, you're a true dreamer. What happens in reality is that you forget to eat for the most part of the day and when you do remember, it's usually some dry crackers with peanut butter lying in your desk drawer. Nutrition is more important than ever during a stressful times. You need vitamins for your brain to function right.

Check out these 7 brain foods to stock up on before finals week. Some include avocado, which I bet you already love anyway, salmon and dark chocolate. Yup, I said chocolate. We always end up eating whatever is nearest, so make yourself small containers of food to carry in your bag during finals. It's the easiest thing in the world to fill a ziploc bag with walnuts and almonds and have it in your pocket. Take care of your diet. This will prevent episodes of starvation and the massive post-finals binge.

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Know your symptoms

On occasion, I've had chills without fever during finals. It's a super weird feeling. I thought I was getting the flu, but it was actually all because of anxiety. Before you give up on studying and retire to your room with a bag of flu medication, examine what's really wrong. The reason for your chills isn't always as obvious as you may think.

If you've got a headache, drink 50 oz of water before reaching for Advil. You'll be surprised at how many nasty side effects arise purely from stress and the lack of sleep. Approach finals with a feeling of calm. After all, it's not the end of the world. Be confident in yourself.

Meditate

I don't want to sound corny, but meditation has changed my life. Meditating will reduce depression by 75% and anxiety by 30%. It will give you a much needed pause. Even ten minutes a day is enough to help you connect with your body and your thoughts. You'll be able to focus and prioritize better. You can do meditation anywhere, any time. Seriously, you don't even need a yoga mat. Give it a try.

Don't go to the gym

Before you tell me I'm nuts, hear me out on this. Exercise is absolutely crucial during finals week. If I were you, I'd do it every day, even if it was just a 30 minute walk or a one mile jog. Exercise will help you release stress and boost your level of endorphins.

What I'm advising you to do is to skip the gym and go outside. If you think about it, finals week is all about scheduling and constant time constraints. Don't add one more deadline to your day. Rushing to be at the gym before it closes in the evening or waking up early and waiting for it to open is pointless. I naturally wake up at 5 a.m. so instead of waiting for the gym to open at six, I have a quick coffee and lace up my sneakers for an easy jog.

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Exercising outside will be more calming, too. Breathing fresh air as opposed to sweaty, germ-infested gym air is undeniably better. Instead of staring at the TV or the treadmill, watch the world around you while you exercise. This will get you out of your head and you'll forget finals for a minute.

Take a deep breath and follow these six steps. You've got this.