The time has come.

*cue scary music*

Finals' Week is here.

It’s the week that brings pure dread upon college students everywhere. It’s a week consisting of nothing but late nights in front of a textbook, anxiety-induced food binges, coffee overdosing, and the occasional mental breakdown. During finals week, it seems that your entire future is teetering on the edge of disaster. It’s hard not to let the stresses and pressure of this week get to you. Here are some friendly reminders should you find yourself completely overwhelmed.

It’s a bad grade. That’s all.

If you’re like me, then you know what grade you have in every single class, and you’ve carefully calculated what you need to get on each and every final in order to get the final grade you want. (I’ve got it down to a science.) But here’s the thing: if you get a bad grade on the final, or maybe you just don’t get the grade you want, it’s not the end of the world. This is one of the many times your mother’s advice proves true. You are still you. A single letter of the alphabet does not determine who you are or who you will become. So don’t stress so much about getting the exact grade you want; just do your best.

Remember to de-stress.

Camping out in the library for seven hours straight will not do you any good when you’re studying. While the thought of taking even one second away from studying seems absolutely ridiculous, it’s actually a pretty necessary thing. Remember that thing called FUN? You should try it. Schedule some breaks in between study sessions and do something to de-stress. Go for a walk, take a power nap, do some yoga, dance it out…basically anything that will give you a little time to relax.

Call your mom.

When cramming for exams, it’s inevitable that you’ll hit a wall at some point. I’m talking about that moment when your brain is absolutely filled to brim and unable to absorb any more information, when you have given up all hope and have accepted the fact that your future is undeniably dim. This is the perfect moment to grab your phone along with a box of tissues, and call your mom. She is your lifeline, and will no doubt help you calm down. Moms have this awesome ability of putting everything in perspective and reminding you that you can do anything. I guarantee you’ll feel better after hearing her voice and taking whatever advice she gives you. Ah, moms. What would we be without them?

Have a laugh or two.

No, I don’t mean the kind of laughter that comes up when you’re drowning in desperation and staring at all of the things you still have to study. I mean a good, long laugh that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and puts a smile on your face. My go-to is Vines of dogs. In fact, I suggest going to YouTube and just browsing for them. They won’t disappoint.

Now, these reminders aren’t foolproof. You most likely will still get overstressed and obsessed about your future during finals week. But don’t let it define you. If you study hard and do your best, you can’t go wrong. Take some deep breaths, relax, and go get ‘em.