As finals week approaches, it is difficult not to sense the cloud of impending doom that seems to be overtaking the campus. Professors tell students about finals, students ask professors about finals, and students talk to one another about their own finals. The campus atmosphere is gradually gravitating towards stress, and trying to not let ourselves get caught up in the stress spiral becomes tougher with each day.

But fear not, for as merciless as the finals period may be, Mount Holyoke does provide us with moments of calm during the storm. Here are four finals traditions on campus that will replenish your motivation to study while also alleviating some of the stress.

1. No Study Zone

This tradition, which takes place in Chapin at the start of reading days, is all about banning studying for a couple of hours and replacing it with pure joy – the kind you felt as a kid on a moon bounce at a birthday party. Seriously, No Study Zone is the closest campus event you will encounter that resembles a birthday party for a 7-year-old. There are hula hoops and craft tables, candy and popcorn, group dance lessons, photo booths, and of course, a moon bounce right in the center of it all.

2. M&Cs Breakfast

It is not a regular week at Mount Holyoke without M&Cs, and it is not a regular finals week without this special take on the school tradition. All the dining halls open on a certain night during the exam week and provide eggs, pancakes, muffins, sausages, and more to weary students in need of nutrition and relaxation. This event is a wonderful time for friends who are exhausted from studying to finally meet up, dine together, and chat about whatever comes to mind. Everyone leaves with reluctance, but also with newfound motivation to finish off remaining exams and final papers.

3. Pet-A-Pet

Scientific research and, for many people, personal experience consistently demonstrate the uplifting effects of interacting with animals such as dogs, cats, and rabbits. MHC never fails to offer students opportunities to hang out with furry friends as a way to soothe the anxiety of finals week. Whether it is dogs or bunnies, students can expect an event that incorporates these heartwarming animals.

4. Midnight Breakfast

If you thought the finals breakfast festivities concluded with M&Cs, you are quite mistaken. All Saints’ Episcopal, the church nearby the Village Commons and the Career Development Center, hosts an annual Midnight Breakfast for all MHC students. The event is completely free, and the food the church volunteers so kindly make is delicious – I can especially vouch for the veggie sausage patties. As if they could not be any more considerate, the church also provides orange juice and fresh fruit. This tradition is always full of pleasant vibes and happiness – two states of mind students especially need during the finals period.

No one looks forward to finals, but hopefully these Mount Holyoke traditions with their moon bounces, furry animals, and breakfast foods will make the coming days a bit easier to bear. Best of luck on your exams and papers, fellow Mohos, and remember to give yourselves a well-deserved break from time to time.