The semester is coming to an end, which, to a student, could result in tears of joy or tears of stress. But, the fall semester can be filled with joyous occasions. Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas get students excited for lots of reasons: family time, gifts, food and lack of homework or 8 a.m. classes. On the other hand, students cannot enjoy the turkey or the too-early Christmas songs before they make it through the last few weeks.

Projects, papers, presentations and exams are the means of assessing what we have internalized over the past few months. However, these are also the means of meltdowns if not properly prepared. How we spend our few weeks leading up to finals will determine how confident or anxious we are. To prevent final week freak-outs, I asked a few students from different class years to give me a little advice and tell me what they do to prep for finals. These tips were the consensus:

1. De-stressing is the key to success

Many students, when motivation strikes them, try to get all of their work done in one sitting. This could lead to all-nighters, which is frowned upon. By attempting every assignment all at once, students risk high levels of stress and sleep deprivation. Your studies are important but so is your sanity. Taking a break from homework will help you keep your head. Instead of piling on work, try spacing out the assignments throughout the week with a few de-stressing activities in between. Senior Ben Prueitt suggested “[taking] mental breaks at least three times a week for a few hours to prevent being over-stressed.” My favorite de-stressors are napping, friend time and Netflix (limit yourself to one episode per break, not one season). By trying to finish “Orange is the New Black” or “Archer,” you’ll end up procrastinating. Which brings me to my next point.

2. Procrastinating will be the bane of your existence

I am guilty when it comes to procrastinating. What is due tomorrow, do tomorrow, right? Wrong! Procrastinating, especially when studying for finals, is a terrible idea. There are a lot of things you want to do instead of studying, but remember this: finals encompass a lot, if not all, of the things you have learned the last four months. Procrastinating until the weekend before will not be beneficial to you or your brain. First-year Michael Yost said, “If you’ve been proactive with your work, the last couple weeks of the semester should consist of studying for final exams, preventing extra and unneeded stress.” Again, the best thing to do is organize your time and pace yourself. I make lists. Every Sunday, I plan out my week and when I can do what. By spacing out my assignments, it lessens the work load, and I am able to get all of my work done without pulling an all-nighter.

3. Study, study, study!

I wanted to emphasize the importance of relaxing first because the last few weeks can be stressful and overwhelming. But relaxing will not make you understand analogies between Old and Middle English or limits. Studying the material throughout the semester is ideal; however, cram sessions are common during the last few weeks of the semester. I find studying with other classmates to be extremely helpful. Talking through a question allows for group discussion and understanding. By using a Socratic seminar structure, students help teach each other and reinforce the information for themselves.

Setting aside specific study days can also create a routine and encourage consistent study habits. Junior Nathaniel Marlowe suggested utilizing weekends for extra study time: “Most of my friends use Saturdays to catch up and get ahead on work so they can use Sundays to relax.” Planning your work schedule ahead of time allows you to have days strictly for relaxing without falling behind on your work.

In the few weeks left of the fall semester, studying and keeping our sanity is important for many of us. Our final weeks consist of group study sessions, a few tears or temporarily living in the library. But our outside lives do not stop for finals. Some of the students I talked to spoke about finding jobs or internships for the upcoming break. Some are traveling to see family as well. Plans post-finals are a helpful reminder that there is a light at the end of the metaphorical tunnel. Regardless, remember to find your balance between studying and relaxing.