Finals season is in full swing, which means your choking down hot chocolate while crying over your piles of homework and studying. Everyone around you is getting in the Christmas spirit, but you’re feeling trapped between wanting to deck the halls and needing to pull a miracle on this next final to save your grade. It feels never ending. A cycle of school, work, study. School, work, study (With some candycane eating and Christmas singing thrown in).

It’s so easy to feel like you’re stuck on a conveyer belt doing the same thing day after day. And if you’re serious about your studies, you can’t get yourself to slow down because there’s always something to catch up on. You could put hours into your studies, and it still doesn’t feel like enough. There's a hundred more Christmas parties, a hundred more pages to read, and a hundred more lights to hang and gifts to buy. You stretch yourself thin, and soon you feel like you’re about to snap like the leg off gingerbread cookie.

Take a breather before that happens. Getting frustrated with friends, family, homework only makes things worse. Take a step back, take some time to relax, and rewind before you get back to your grind. If you’re stressed and irritable, you won’t be giving your studies or work your absolute all. Your mental health is so crucial, so don’t put it on the back burner. You don't want to have a mental breakdown in the middle of wrapping Christmas presents because the stress of matching a bow with wrapping paper is too much to handle.

So when you find yourself in a crunch, like the middle of a test or a hectic day at work, and you feel like you’re about to rip your hair out. Pause. Breathe. Pray. You are only human, and everyone can relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed. Take a deep breath and remember that this moment is temporary, and you’ll get through. Pray to Jesus to give you patience and motivation, and know that He is right there with you. Cut out some paper snowflakes (crafts make for great stress relief) and put yourself back into a positive mood.

Never forget that you’ve made it through 100% of your bad days. Believe in yourself and know that you are strong. Give yourself a pep talk (they’re the best) and get back at it and give it your all. But be sure to know when to set that textbook down, and instead cuddle up with your hot chocolate and feel good knowing you deserved a break. Soon finals season will pass, and you can take a well earned break at home, while (hopefully) not crying about mismatched Christmas paper.