Yay, it's finally December! Everyone's favorite time of year! Unless...you are a college student. Don't get me wrong, we still love getting ready for Christmas, seeing our far away friends and family, don't forget about finally getting to cuddle with your favorite dog from back home. It is what we have to get through first in order to relax and enjoy the holidays back home. Finals.

Just the word makes every college student-run and hides or buries their noses in textbooks and lecture notes. For some, finals are just like taking another test. But for a lot of others, finals means you think about what would happen if you just dropped all your classes at least five or six times. So this is going to be a list of helpful tips to remember when battling finals week.

1. Make sure to keep eating and sleeping normally

Eating right is definitely important. Do not push aside your health to do better in school. Sleeping patterns affect your memory and alertness so altering your normal patterns can actually work against you.

2. Drinking water instead of caffeine

Drinking water instead of the go-to coffee or energy drink is much better for your body and will keep you awake longer and fight against any early signs of tiredness throughout the day.

3. Taking breaks is important

After cramming for a couple hours, your brain needs a break. If getting on your phone is too distracting, try taking a jog around your floor or using the time to grab a well-deserved snack.

4. Do not study all your materials at the same time

Studying for multiple classes all in one night is not only going to be confusing on your brain but harder to retain the information and correlate it to the following exams.

5. Designate a time to be finished studying for the night

Depending on when you get done with classes, designate the time in which you are done studying and can focus on your own well being.

6. Following that, manage your time throughout the day

If you have time to spare during the day, use it. Better to study during the day than waiting until six o'clock at night to even get started.

7. Do at least one stress-less activity you enjoy each night

Let yourself relax, I know it's challenging when you think you could be using every spare moment to study, but letting yourself relax will help you be more relaxed during the exam.

8. Silence your phone

Get rid of those distractions right off the bat.

9. Use all of your resources

Some teachers post their lecture notes or helpful videos on an easy to access source. Make sure to use them when you study, especially if there is a study guide.

Even though some of these may seem obvious, a lot of them if exercised daily before and during finals week, will have a positive effect on the outcome of your grades. Just keep charging forward and you will get through the semester and soon be sitting next to your Christmas tree with a warm mug of hot cocoa.