Papers, Quizzes, and Finals ... Oh my!

As we all know, finals are approaching quickly, and unfortunately, there is no calm before the storm. In the next two weeks leading up to finals, professors have crammed in tests, last minute quizzes, ten page papers, and any other random assignment they could think of.

After all of this has been turned in, there is not even time to celebrate and relax because one day later our favorite week of the semester (insert extreme sarcasm) starts: Finals Week. What about Thanksgiving Break, you ask? With a paper due the Monday after break and three finals two days after that, I know I will not be getting much of a break over the holiday.

With all of this work piling up, here is a needed reminder that everything will be okay and to not stress out TOO much. I know its inevitable. Trust me, as an extreme procrastinator, I know. No matter how many times people tell me to not worry, I still do it.

However, don't drive yourself crazy over a test or paper that you will not even remember next semester. I am not saying you should give up and not even try to study. What I am saying is manage your time well, study to the best of your abilities, and then let whatever happens happen. There is no use in biting your nails over a test you studied your hardest for, and if you didn't study? Well, there is no going back now so might as well not worry about it too much.

With all of this said, here are a few ways to stay as calm as possible the next few weeks and not feel like death is knocking at your door:

1. Study in a place that makes you happy. Loathe the library with every fiber of your being? Don't study there. Pick a place that you enjoy like a coffee shop or another building on campus. Just don't pick a place where you can get too comfy, or you'll probably end up passing out.

2. Manage your time well. I have to admit, I am not the best at this. Most of the time my motto is "Due tomorrow = do tomorrow." Because, in my eyes, an impromptu nap on my couch followed by an hour on Pinterest seems way more exciting than working on my paper. However, this has led to many sleepless nights and near emotional breakdowns. So if you're like me, the next few weeks will be a great time to start practicing better time management skills.

3. Get some sleep. Because we all know we are happier, more aware individuals when we do so. Also, you'll most likely do better on that Biology final if you don't pull an all-nighter three nights in a row.

4. Eat healthy. I, of all people, know how hard it is to eat healthy when I'm busy or stressed out. I grab something quick to eat or get Starbucks and take it to the library with me. I also come home and go to town on a pint of ice cream after a tough day. However, an easy fix is to pack a few healthy snacks before you leave your house for the day or go to the library for a few hours. Take an apple or bag of carrots so that you're not snacking on vending machine chips or Starbucks desserts. If you do this, you will feel less sluggish and be more productive.

5. Do something fun. Take a little time out of each day to do something that makes you happy. Whether it is going to the gym for an hour, taking a walk, or reading a book with some tea, make sure you take some time for yourself. Sometimes all you need is a little reward to keep you going.