Finals Week: Survival 101

It's that time of the year again! Temperatures have dropped. Thanksgiving has passed. Snow is falling (everywhere except for Evansville, apparently). Cars need defrosted before they can be driven. College basketball season is in full swing. The calendar says it's finally December.

Yep. You know what that means. Fall semester finals have arrived.

Between putting together presentations, finishing up 10-page term papers, and cramming for exams, it's not uncommon to experience the sensation that your head is going to explode. You may feel as if your life is over, walls are falling down all around you, and/or the world is ending.

I am a natural worrier, so I know firsthand how intense things can get when the end of the semester rolls around. However, I also know that at a time like this, it is crucial to remain calm in order to do well, both grade-wise and sanity-wise. So here are some tips I've put together to keep stress levels under control.

1. Manage your time well. If there's any time to put those awesome time management skills to use, it would be now: crunch time. Draw out a calendar for finals week, clearly marking which day, where, and what time each of your finals is. Set aside a good chunk of study time each day, and stick to it! Don't put off preparation and studying until the night before an exam; this will only result in an increase in anxiety and stress levels, and you most likely won't retain the information as well.

2. Take advantage of the library. I've always thought I was the type of person who can study anywhere. Being one of seven children, there were several times throughout high school where I was forced to write an essay or review for an exam in the midst of a blaring TV, a crying baby, and a silly argument or two. When I got to college, I never bothered going to the library to study because I assumed I had conditioned myself to focus in the midst of lots of noise and activity. Though it may be true that I could concentrate on an assignment in the middle of a hurricane if need be, there's no denying all the distractions that you come across while trying to do school work in your dorm room or at your apartment. The television, your iTunes playlist, those neighbors who are always hanging out in your living room, and the fridge in your kitchen- even things that are seemingly harmless can be enormously hazardous when you're trying to study for finals. So even if you're like me, and can study no matter what the noise level... never underestimate the power of that silent, relaxing, studious library.

3. Pamper yourself. Listen to your favorite music, light some pretty-smelling candles, and take an hour-long bubble bath. Read your favorite book (Harry Potter, for me). Give yourself a manicure or pedicure. Although pampering yourself may seem counter-productive when it comes to utilizing your time wisely, it does wonders for calming you down. I've taken two bubble baths this week alone and I felt more relaxed both during and afterwards than I have all semester.

4. Get plenty of sleep. Though it may be tempting to pull a few all-nighters in college, especially this time of the year, take my advice and just don't. Trust me, staying up all night reading those last few chapters won't be worth it the next day when you're too exhausted and out of it to even hold your pencil the correct way. Also, getting enough sleep is essential for keeping your immune system in tip-top shape, and this is not a time where you want to be fighting off illness. Take care of yourself!

5. Hit the gym. Speaking of taking care of yourself... Exercising is another great way to stay healthy while releasing tons of stress-killing endorphins. Feel guilty spending a couple of hours at the gym while you should be studying for that final exam? Take your textbooks and notes to the gym with you! Prop a book up to read while walking on the treadmill, or go over your class notes while using the stationary bike. Studying at the gym is a great way to kill two birds with one stone.

6. Roomie cuddle time! (Or your own personal equivalent.) This is the term Kari, Amy, and I use to refer to our roommate bonding sessions. Last year, it consisted of us shutting ourselves in the windowless living room, turning off the lights, cuddling on mattresses thrown on the floor, and singing at the top of our lungs. This year? Squeezing all three of us onto Amy's twin bed and singing a mixture of Christmas carols, Taylor Swift, and old country love songs. No matter how you prefer to bond with your roommates or best friends, I can assure you that if you take the time to just relax, laugh, and enjoy each others' company, you won't regret it.

I really hope that taking a few of these tips to heart will benefit you as much as they did me! Good luck to all you college students out there; I pray that finals week finds you healthy, well rested, sufficiently intelligent, and stress-free. Hang in there; Christmas break is right around the corner!