As we all head into finals week, we must refresh on some helpful tips and pieces of advice on how to manage stress. The good thing about finals week is that after all finals are finished and the week is done, winter break and the holidays await! Though it can be helpful to keep this in mind, don’t get too carried away with the future. Everyone has different ways of preparing for finals, but there are basics that we should all keep in mind. Finals are by no means fun, but it is out of all our control; complaining might seem necessary, but it isn’t going to change the fact that finals are required. So, here are some pieces of advice to help you stay on the right track as you approach finals week.

Finals can be very stressful, but, significantly, this stress is managed healthily. 1. One basic step to reduce your stress levels, is to now and then take some deep breaths. This is proven to help the person mentally and physically calm themselves down. Not only can this be helpful while preparing for finals, but it can also help someone as they take their tests. If ever while taking finals it seems that you are getting caught up and need to refocus, taking a deep breath can assist you in resetting. 2. Another piece of advice is to work the stress out by taking a break from what you are doing and partaking in a different activity. Some examples are going to the gym, treating yourself, or laughing with a friend. This method can help you “unplug” from the stressful environment in which you are stuck, and place you in a less stressful environment. 3. Additionally, making sure that you are getting enough sleep is an essential part of preparing for finals. If the body and mind aren’t getting enough rest, then it will be harder to pertain and remember information come time for the test. It might seem that you need to stay up and study more, but sometimes this isn’t the case. Studying more and sleeping less affects students more than it is highlighted. 4. Lastly, maintaining a positive mindset during finals is important. If you don’t believe in yourself and have negative thoughts, then you can practically set yourself up for failure. Have some belief in yourself and who knows, it might help you more than you realize