Finals Week

Definition: books and notes strewn across the table, overwhelming stress, late night, brain-frying study sessions, pretty much a nightmare of a week.

There are ways, of course, to reduce the agony of such a week. Here are a few tips to ease the tension and prepare yourself for finals week.

1. Get rid of distractions. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, cell phones, whatever your weakness may be, give it up for a week. If it's impossible, limit yourself to checking once a day. I promise it's worth it. 
2. Study at the library. Discover your favorite nook and settle down for a hard core study session. It's quiet, the distractions are few, and the atmosphere is comfortable, relaxing, yet motivating.
3. Howl. Every Wednesday of finals week there's been a Utah State tradition to howl (yes, like a wolf) at 10pm in the library in order to unwind and release test anxiety. 
4. Take breaks. Power walk for 15 minutes, grab a healthy snack, stick in ear buds and have a silent dance party, watch a funny YouTube video and share it with a friend, or reminisce by looking through old photos. Do whatever it takes to relax for a few minutes so your brain doesn't turn to mush. 
5. Make a list. I find when I schedule out my day with what I'm going to study, for how long, as well as when I'm going to take breaks, I get a lot more accomplished than if I go on a whim of what I feel like studying at the moment. 
6. Listen to music. Try classical music to help you stay focused and motivated. Pandora has some great classical and piano stations that are perfect for studying. 
7. Reward yourself. After all that hard studying and using your stellar skills to ace exams, give yourself a treat! Party with friends, go to a movie, or get some Aggie ice cream to celebrate a job well done!