It’s the home stretch everyone. Dead week is finally here and next week is the beloved week of finals (insert sarcasm here)! Time to jam everything that we’ve learned this semester into our brains just enough so that it is ingrained in there for two weeks. The truth about this time is that it is the scariest, most stressful, and hectic time of the semester. This two week period consists of students cramming, spending late nights at the library, having too much coffee, binging on snacks, and not getting nearly enough sleep, if any at all. Students go from feeling super anxious about the exams themselves, to bitterness towards their professors, and then throw in a little sass with just a touch of depression. Talk about the biggest mood swings ever.

These exams will determine whether you pass or fail. How hard you work and study during these weeks will either help boost your grade up or be the reason you lose your A. This is a highly sensitive time for some including myself. I have found that I am in this boat of freaking out and breaking down also, but here are just few practical tips I'd like to share so that we don't strain our brains.

1. Make A Study Schedule

Make time for studying while also making time for yourself, meaning give yourself time to relax. Know how much studying you need to accomplish for each of your classes. Figure out your studying habits. Do you learn better with listening to music or reading your notes out loud, do you need to shut the world out and be by yourself, or do you need to be moving while you study? Mix up your studying by doing two hours for one class, 15 minute break, next two hours study for another class. Make sure you don’t overload on studying, pack your days full, and get burnt out! Remember to take breaks and have a little fun with your friends.

2. Sleep

Get some sleep! I know there’s this big obsession with staying up all night to study, but from personal experience it doesn’t work for everyone. Yes you might think, “Well, the longer I stay up the more time I spend studying and then I’ll just absorb more into my brain and remember.” That is so false, if you are forcing yourself to stay awake and can barely even read your own handwriting, it means you need to go to bed or even just take a small nap. I promise you will be able to study with more energy and focus if you have enough rest. Trust me, if you're like me it is much easier to get things done throughout the day rather than doing them all at night and not be able to do everything you wanted to get done.

3. Eat Healthy

I know, it’s easier said than done. Going to the campus food court and getting Taco Bell and Pizza Hut is convenient and ordering Jimmy Johns or Chinese to your building is a cake walk. Although, that may not be the best way to fill your stomach when you are trying to be productive. After eating all of those greasy unhealthy foods you’re going to feel bloated, tired, and in a slump. In the end it will mean you spent more time eating than studying and then you’re too tired to go on. Stick with an apple and some pretzels, it’ll be better in the long run.

4. Get Away

Remember when you made your study schedule and made time to get away from your books? This is what you do…you get away! Leave your dorm room, or the library, or the dark hole that you’re hiding in because finals makes you want to avoid everything you need to do. If you’re athletic go for a run or to the gym and let off some worries along with the calories and sweat.

If you’re someone who likes nature go for a nice walk, take a bunch of blankets and have a picnic in the park, pick some flowers, be one with the tree! Bookworms, read a book of your choice for fun. Animal lovers, go to a shelter or a pet store and play with the puppies or if you’re one of those people, the cats. Hang out with friends, bake cookies, crochet or knit, the possibilities are endless. The only thing I would advise you to do is stay away from Netflix. You don’t even want to take a chance and start the habit of, “just one more episode,” because whether you mean to or not you will be done with an entire season.

So there you are, four simple quick tips that will help you survive finals. Like I said this is a scary time, but don't worry. You got this. Don't freak out more than you need to and if you do that's where the friends come in, to support you and boost your confidence! Be positive and we all will get through it. Good luck!