Every year at this time we are stressing out about grades, tests, graduating and what we may even be doing after college. In this stressful time, it is important to remember to stay focused, have energy and do the best we can to complete all of our tasks. Often times we have too much work and cannot make time to get the food and energy we need to stay focused throughout finals week, which is a little different than senior week so I’ve heard. So, I am going to do my best to provide some tips on how to get through finals week with a focused mind and a happy stomach.

1. Quick Foods:

The NorthStar Café is loaded with quick energy boosters that take no more than two minutes to grab and get back on your way to the library. One of the best energy boosters is the pre-made yogurt parfait that comes with fruit and granola. These are quick, easy and will give you some nutrients to keep you alert and focused in order to get some work done.

There are also hummus and pretzel packets, a plethora of granola bars and although it may not be the most nutritious thing to eat you can always grab a slice of pizza from the pub. If you have enough money on your meal plan feel free to utilize the great, quick foods that the pub has to offer during finals week.

2. Coffee:

Yes, essential. Coffee is one of the best parts of finals week because we can drink it 24 hours a day and not be judged. The Pub is also great for coffee thanks to the Sun Coffee Roasters. However, the Brewer Bookstore also has great coffees and smoothies along with an assortment of treats.

Another thing to do if you have time is to utilize the coffee in the Dana Dining Center. Bring your own thermos or mug and you can even have fun with it. I personally enjoy iced coffee. I have even ventured over to where the ice cream is to put a mocha spin on my coffee with some chocolate syrup. (You can thank me later.) But in the meantime, get the caffeine you need to focus on your work and make it through the long hours of the night.

3. Use the Canton Resources:

We are surrounded in Canton by multiple pizza places, take advantage of that. Sergi’s, Josie’s, Domino’s and Pizza Hut are all located within a mile of campus and most will deliver right to your dorm. So grab a friend and order a late-night pie. Also, don’t forget about Hot Tamale, The Partridge Run Café, The Bagelry and Buster’s Sports Café. Canton has more to offer than you think, and if you run out of meal money these are all great options.

4. Cook for Yourself and Friends:

If you have some spare time, utilize the kitchens that we have in almost every dorm. Whether you get ingredients from the Pub, Price Chopper or elsewhere. Sometimes cooking can be a great study break and you can make whatever foods that are familiar to you or even branch out and try something new to pass some time. The Pub is also stocked with baking mixes for desserts such as brownies and cookies…

5. Treat Yourself:

This is my personal favorite part. Finals can be very stressful; one of the best ways to get some of that stress out of you is to eat comfort foods, sweets in particular. One of my favorite parts of campus us the freezer filled with Ben & Jerry’s in the Pub, or the ice cream cooler in the same location. There are multiple aisles in the pub that are loaded with snacks and treats that are sure to brighten your mood, and hey, you deserve it during finals week. So grab some ice cream and reward yourself for the hard work during the semester, I know I will.

These are just a few suggestions and options that are available to us here in Canton and on campus. Food is essential to a successful finals week. We need energy to focus and keep us on task to ensure decent grades for the last part of the year. So make sure to use the resources we have here at school... and two pints of ice cream are always better than one!