As the last days of November have drawn to a close, we finally begin our countdown to Christmas. On every street corner, glittering lights are strung amongst tinsel and bells. In every household, Christmas trees bear their glorious ornaments. All through the town, the sounds of Christmas can be heard. Along with the anticipation of a cheerful season, the coming of Christmas is a beacon of hope for all college students. The arrival of Christmas marks the end of our struggle for the fall semester. We studied hard. We made the grades (hopefully), and now we are left to relax at home with our friends and family. This is the current motivation for many college students, and there is only one thing that currently stands in our way: finals week.

Finals week is quite possibly the most dreaded week of the semester. After straining for months over endless piles of books, we must finally face the mother of all tests. The final examination, unlike any other exam, tests our knowledge of everything we have learned over the past 5 months. This test can make you or break you. Obviously, this week causes a great deal of anxiety for the average college student. As college progresses, you are able to better cope with the stress of finals week; however, for many freshmen, the first finals week can be a very trying time. In order to help ease the burden, I have suggested a few ways to successfully survive finals week.

1. Stay Calm

I get it. Finals are stressful. There’s no way around it, but that does not mean you have to live in a pit of anxiety. Throughout the week, be intentional about doing things that make you happy. Go for a run. Take a yoga class. Get some fresh air. Simply take a moment to breath. Sometimes it might seem like you don’t have enough time for these things, but I assure you that it is worth trying to make the time. Taking time for yourself to relax and unwind will actually help you learn and remember the material. Also, don’t be afraid to go on that late night froyo run. You deserve it.

2. Find Study Buddies

Let’s be honest. Studying alone is never fun. While you might reason that you need silence in order to stay focused, I have found that some of my greatest achievements on exams have occurred after studying with friends. Studying with people gives you a plethora of resources because you are no longer relying on your own knowledge. If you don’t get something, you at least have one other person who might be able to clear up your confusion. Sometimes being delirious together is the only way to stay sane. After pulling an all-nighter with someone, you two are practically bound for life.

3. Stay Healthy

I will be the first to tell you that in stressful times, taking care of myself is the last thing on my mind. This is absolutely wrong. You are not going to do any better on your test if you end up sick. Please take care of yourself! Take vitamins, drink lots of fluids, and make sure to get a good night’s sleep every night. Those extra hours of study time are not worth an illness. Your body will thank you later.

Finals week is intense. Students are pushed to their maximum limit, and sometimes it feels like you can’t go on. The good news is that you can. The most important advice I can give the freshmen of finals week is to never ever give up. If you want an A, go get it. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. Keep your eye on the prize, and keep counting down the days until Christmas break. You all are going to do great! Good luck and happy studying!