Guess what time of the year it is? That’s right! It’s finals week. The time of the year when the Christmas spirit and excitement for a long break are overshadowed by a barrage of tests, papers, and projects. Pretty much all students everywhere are guaranteed a week of stress, insanity, and sleep deprivation. Thanks a lot, school system. How did you know that was exactly what I wanted for Christmas?

So, in preparation for finals week I thought I’d share some of my favorite ways to cut down on finals week stress.

1. Create study guides. Like giant study packets. Having all of my study material organized in one place makes me have a more accurate idea of what exactly I have to get done.

2. Organize everything. Your room, your car, your backpack. The more organized you are, the less you will have to worry about cleaning and organizing later. Plus, having your environment organized can help your brain feel more organized.

3. Create a study schedule and stick to it. This helps curb procrastination and last-minute panicking.

4. Get lots of sleep. I know pulling an all-nighter the night before the test might sound like a good idea, but it really won’t help you much. A good night’s sleep will help you to be more alert for the test and will increase your capacity to remember important things.

5. Take strategic study breaks. By strategic, I mean plan what you will be doing and how long you will continue the activity before returning to studying. Otherwise you might end up watching Netflix for three hours instead of thirty minutes.

6. Get some fresh air. Go for a walk or play a quick game of basketball with some friends. Getting out of your room and getting some exercise. You will be able to focus better when it’s time to hit the books again.

7. Spend some of your study time around other people. Other people can help provide a bit of a change in environment. It’s also just more fun to be around other people, especially when you’re studying a subject you really aren’t that interested in.

8. Talk to people who have already taken that class. They can tell you how to study best and how the test will most likely be set up. Take advantage of their knowledge and experience.

I hope some of my ideas were helpful to you. Just remember to hang in there. Finals will be over soon and you’ll have all of Christmas break to relax and recover before it starts all over again next semester. You can do this! I believe in you! Everyone else is freaking out just as much as you are. You aren’t alone in the finals week struggle. And soon you’ll get to go home, hug your parents, and play with your dog or cat. Finals week is rough, but you can get through it. Now, get off your phone or computer, and study! Good luck to you, and have a very merry Christmas!