The hardest part of the semester is upon us. Thanksgiving Break is over. We’ve stuffed our faces, spent time with family and friends and ignored the majority of our scholarly responsibilities.

But, now that we’ve had that taste of freedom, it is back to the books and time to get down to business, because finals are less than a week away.

So, as the end of the semester fast approaches, I will try to do the impossible: create a guide to help you survive finals.

**Tip No. 1:** _Get enough sleep._

I know that everyone tells you this, but I truly believe that getting enough sleep is a key to doing well on finals. When you’re tired, you have a hard time maintaining focus and remembering material meaning your studying is less productive.

Start now. It won’t help to only go to bed early on the night before your test. To feel truly well-rested and prepared, you will want to be fully caught up on your sleep. Besides, you don’t want to risk sleeping through those early morning tests.

**Tip No. 2:** _Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize._

You have a lot of material to cover. And with final projects and essays to get done as well, it can be a little overwhelming.

Spend the bulk of your time reviewing the subjects and material that you had trouble with the first time. If you knew something before, chances are you will remember it with a quick review. However, it you didn’t understand something the first time around, make sure you learn it now.

Furthermore, get those final projects and essays done as soon as possible so that you don’t have to throw something together at the last minute. If they are already done, you can focus on studying the materials for your finals.

**Tip No. 3:** _Find a study buddy._

I know it sounds cliché, but someone who can study with you can be an invaluable resource come finals week.

A study buddy can serve many purposes including giving you information that you missed or teaching you something you didn’t understand. Studying with someone can also result in new insights gained through discussion.

Overall, a study buddy can provide much-needed encouragement and motivation throughout this difficult time.

**Tip No. 4:** _Set goals and reward yourself._

It is impossible to study too much without taking a break. However, it is also easy to let yourself get distracted for long periods of time.

To remedy this, set goals for yourself, such as finishing your review of a chapter or getting a page of your essay done.

Once you complete the goal, let yourself take a short break and get a snack or do something you enjoy. Then, make sure you get back to work immediately with a new goal in mind.

Set rewards for yourself for after your finals are over as well. For example, treat yourself to a pre-test lunch at your favorite restaurant. This will give you something to look forward to and make studying easier. And be sure to take yourself for a post-finals feast when it’s all over.

**Tip No. 5:** _Keep things in perspective_

Remember that you are more than just grades. You have more to offer the world than how you do on a test.

Keeping things in perspective will help to lower your stress levels and help you feel better once your tests are over. Be satisfied with doing your personal best.

Likewise, remember that this is only a couple of weeks out of the year. When things get tough, remind yourself that in the grand scheme of things, these weeks are pretty short, and, when you’re done, you will have a whole month of freedom.

_Good luck, MOVErs! May the odds be ever in your favor._