1. Make a Plan

If you want to win the day, you need to be organized. Otherwise, you could miss a due date or be stuck studying last minute. Now is the time to organize necessary dates for all of your classes and make sure you understand everything expected of you. Are you handing in these assignments in person or online? Or both? Does it need to be printed out? Make sure you understand the rubrics and ask any clarifying questions as soon as possible. This is what your professors are for. A simple email may suffice, but you can also take advantage of office hours for greater insight. They want you to succeed, so use all the resources available to you. This also means you should check out resources your university offers. Many institutions have study rooms or tutors available provided you sign up in advance. You don't want to pull an all-nighter only to realize all the good spots in the library are taken. 

2. Find the Right Environment

Not everyone is able to study in just any environment. The library is a common place to study, since libraries are traditionally quiet and flush with study resources, but you might prefer some gentle white noise. Headphones can help, but the local cafe might help you get more done. It's also a prime location for group projects and makes stopping for snacks or meals easy. It can also be a bad idea to stay in one environment for too long if you're struggling with certain concepts or stuck on how to proceed. Having a rotation of study spots can help your brain refresh and reboot. Whatever you do, don't study in bed. Your brain already associates that spot with sleep!

3. Eat Well

It can be tempting to survive off of coffee and spite during finals week, but you're going to need a little more than that to perform at your best. Your brain is taking in a lot of concepts at once, some of them still pretty new, and it needs to be fed the right nutrients in order to actually remember those facts when you need them. Junk food will do in a pinch, but most college dining halls have at least some bananas and a salad bar. You can keep some granola or protein bars on hand for when you're too engrossed in your studies to leave your room, but a little fresh air is probably a good idea too. 

4. Take Breaks

If you're stuck on a project, try taking a quick walk. This can give your subconscious some time to think over the problem while you stretch your legs and get your blood pumping. Set a timer while you work so you can take five minutes to stretch, drink some water, and hit the restroom. It's easy to feel like you have to be studying with every spare minute you've got left, but your brain needs time to process what you're trying to feed it. Meet some friends for dinner and commiserate, check in with your roommate, and while you're at it, your mom would probably love to hear from you. Many colleges offer fun events during or leading up to finals week to help relieve stress. So enter that giveaway, go to the pizza party, and pet those therapy puppies. You may get back to your desk with some new ideas! 

Finals can be rough, but don't let them run you ragged. With a little planning, the right study area, and some high-protein snacks, you'll be in a great position to finish out the semester strong. 

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