Every semester, students are under immense stress due to final exams. It is a well-known fact that students pull all-nighters, drink more coffee than they thought possible, and try to cram all the knowledge from all of their classes into their brains in just a few nights. All of this comes at a cost though.

So many students sacrifice their mental health in order to cram and try and get the best grades they can.

If you look at the grand scheme of life, one bad grade, even if it is a final, is not going to ruin your future. Some students study so much that their brains go numb and they can't remember anything they studied. Mental health declines so much when students do this, and it takes a toll. If you study so much your head hurts and you feel like your brain is numb, you might need to take a break or find a new way of studying.

Every once in a while whenever you get a few things done and have worked for an hour, take a 15-minute break. During this break do something that you enjoy and something that will help you relax. Make sure that you are expelling your stress and giving your body and mind an outlet. For some people, this could be going to the gym or for a run/walk, whereas for othera it is baking or cooking, and for some it is doing something art-related!

As you are going through these stressful times, make sure that you are putting yourself before a grade. I don't mean that you need to slack off or not study, but if you feel drained and like you aren't performing the way in which you think you should, check-in with yourself. Ask yourself if you need a break and allow yourself to take that break.

Remember that you are working hard and doing your best. Allow yourself to take 15 minutes to relax or to think about something other than finals, exams, and papers.

One grade or class is not worth your mental or physical health. Remember to take breaks as you need them. Drink your water and make a meal for yourself. Do the little things that bring you joy in life, because life is too short to waste even a week being unhappy.