Finals are starting to come up and probably every college student is feeling the pressure, so here are some tips to survive the week. Not to mention all the papers and projects that teachers seem to spring onto us. At the beginning of the semester, it seems like there is all the time in the world and that you won’t start that paper just yet, but now it's two or three weeks until the very end of the semester and the work just seems to keep piling up. However, there are ways to not stress too much and to get through this time with your sanity intact. I found a very good website that also says ways to survive finals week.

1. Don’t worry too much.

Most people think of finals as this huge scary test that will either make or break your grade. That could be true depending on how your grade in a certain class is. Mainly just remember that it's like any other test, and that for the past 16 weeks, you have been learning and studying this material over and over.

2. Sleep!

Sleep is the best thing for every brain. While you are asleep the brain is going through the REM cycle and everything you learned that day is being processed and stored for your use another day. Also sleep helps your brain rest and be ready for tomorrow. Sleep deprivation is a very dangerous thing especially around finals time. No one wants to be half-asleep going into an important final.

3. Take care of yourself.

Along with sleep, the body needs nutrition and fluids. The body feels worse when it doesn’t have enough energy to last the day. When your body has a lot of stress not only does the body suffer, but so does memory and the brain.

4. Have fun and take breaks.

When I study, I try to focus on one thing for 20 minutes at a time then I take a 10-minute break. During these 10 minutes I do whatever I want. I could do a bit of pleasure reading, take a rest, or even go take a walk around my dorm room hall. It's whatever you want to make it. Then once the 10 minutes are up, go back to what you were doing whether it is homework, studying, or a project. This break lets your mind rest and then be ready to go back to work.

5. Turn off social media and other electronics.

The constant notifications coming from your phone from social media. I know that I personally always look at my phone when it goes off. Turning off your phone or putting on silent so you won’t hear it go off and it won’t distract you. When I know that I need to focus, I “ban” myself from Netflix, my Kindle, and social media. This way I can just keep my focus on what I am doing and no other activities. I even have moved my other electronics out of arm's reach from me. One time, I even put my Kindle in the closet just so I won’t be tempted to get distracted from my school work.

6. Get out of your room.

There are times that I can’t focus at all and I have learned that a change of scenery is good. There is always the library or even sitting outside on the grass. Being cooped up in one room for a long time is very confining. Talking with others could be very good and even better would be studying in a group so you have some human interaction and study time for finals at the same time.

7. Plan.

If you don’t have a planner, then use sticky notes or make a schedule. Plan out when to study certain things and how to use study breaks. Most especially, plan out meal times, and make sure that you eat at least three meals a day. For the papers that I have to do, I am scheduling out what to do and when. Also set goals for yourself like, “I will be done with____by_____."

8. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

The best thing you could do is ask teachers and other students for help. Teachers are there for you to ask questions. Most teachers appreciate it when students come to them. All of my teachers are so nice and they will help any student who needs help, even if this question has been answered before, the teacher will still answer it.

9. Think positive.

It is almost the end of the school year and the start of summer. After finals there are no tests, homework, or annoying classmates for three months. In no time at all, we will be free to do whatever we want. I personally am going to enjoy my summer so very much. I will see friends that I haven’t seen since last summer. School is almost over and when you get so stressed, don’t think about all the bad things, think about how summer is coming.