You are sitting at your desk glued to the computer screen. Six hours straight glancing at study guides and trying to retain pointless information. Your stomach feels like it is completely empty from intense hunger, but you don’t want to disrupt your sense of concentration. You start wondering if this misery will ever end. Finals can be incredibly overwhelming and emotionally draining. The holidays are here and all we want to do is partake in festivities and spend time with our loved ones during this special time of the year. I’ve been battling with this annual struggle for four years now. It is difficult. But I have some advice to help overcome this stressful time.

First things first, manage your time. Over the course of the past four years in college, I have learned that time management is the key to not stressing out during finals. I know this probably sounds cliché but it really will save you from having a breakdown when finals roll around. Budget your time so you are able to have leisure time, dedicated to doing strictly what you want to do, and work time. Don’t let work time interfere with leisure time, and vice versa. In the beginning, it is very tempting and easy to let leisure time outweigh work time. However, you need to take charge and do all you can to prevent this from happening. Allowing too much leisure time or too much work time in our daily schedules is what makes us so stressed out during finals.

Additionally, it is also wise to spread out studying in several increments of time. It is not necessary, or effective, to spend 12 hours straight soaking in information. This will only overwhelm you. When I first began college, I was guilty of this. I would sit and look at notes for hours upon hours and then wonder why I wasn’t comprehending the information. After much consideration, I changed my study habits. Rather than glancing at lecture notes all day and night, it is actually more efficient to study in one hour intervals, taking frequent breaks, and also skimming over notes before going to sleep. This method has allowed me to recall and take in information much quicker, resulting in better grades. It is also satisfying because you are allowing yourself to be productive while also having leisure time during your study breaks.

Lastly, don’t let finals interfere with your social life, especially around the holidays. The holidays only come once a year. I am not saying abandon your papers and exams. Just remember, it is not necessary to be studying all day and night. Give yourself a break and go to that holiday gathering or dinner. Before you know it, the holidays will vanish and you will regret not appreciating it while it was here.