Even the simplest exam can become the Mount Everest of school work. While reaching the summit is no easy feat, it makes running off for Christmas break all the more rewarding. The entire semester's worth of stress, anxiety, and effort culminate in one relatively short week. While it's not hard to imagine indulging in a peppermint whipped cream topped Christmas movie marathon at the end, getting there is where college students often find themselves failing to visualize. However, the end of the semester doesn't have to a complete disaster.

The biggest impediment I believe all college students face is procrastination. In general, procrastination is upheld as the enemy. As the saying goes, though, "keep your friends close and your enemies closer," right? Here's a secret: it's OK to procrastinate.

Well, productively procrastinate, anyway.

I know, I know; productive procrastination seems paradoxical in that procrastination is literally to hold off accomplishing mandatory tasks. Although that's generally the case, it doesn't mean procrastination can't be used for ulterior good.

So, you don't want to study? Well, I think we're all in the same boat. How many other things, though, do you technically need to do besides studying? I can think of at least three.

Instead of hitting the books right away, you can always give your room a good glance over. I'm sure it needs to be cleaned. Whether it's doing laundry, vacuuming, folding clothes, dusting etc., tidying up your room is a great way to still be productive.

Feeling hungry? When is the last time you bothered to cook a meal? And by meal, I don't mean adding hot water to ramen or making Easy Mac. Take some extra time to prepare a decently sensible meal for yourself. A more nutritious lunch or dinner will give you a better energy source you'll need to begin your trek across campus to the library.

The last one may be a love/hate idea, but it's worth considering. Exercise! While the gym may not be your favorite place, getting some form of exercise is important. Taking a walk around your apartment complex or even stretching for a while is a good physical (and mental) break. Plus, depending on how much time you plan to give yourself, it'll be fairly easy to pick an exercise that fits that time frame.

In all, procrastination doesn't have to equate to certain doom. Even though you may be pushing back studying, you're still accomplishing necessary and practical tasks. Having clean living quarters, nutritious food, and a mental break are necessary components to doing well on finals. Setting yourself up for success not only means putting in the time poring over notes, but also staying healthy and organized. Also, I'm sure there are more productive possibilities that you've thought of while reading this. In that case, those are valid options, too. Whatever you choose, it's important that we all re-examine our outlook on procrastination and rebrand it with a potentially positive connotation.