The only thing standing between you and summer is finals week. That dreaded time of year is upon us once again. The plethora of tests, lengthy papers, oral compositions and projects — all compressed together in what always seems like never enough time. Yes, finals are here.

Just about everyone is sleep deprived, running on nothing but gallons of Red Bull and coffee, staked out in the ZSR, and on edge. What’s a stressed out student to do?

James Raper, a counselor at the university counseling center, gave his two cents: “First, remember that some anxiety is actually good and helpful.  It can help us attend to important matters that need our attention, and focus on being productive.” He suggested intervening with any type of exercise, like a brief walk around the quad, deep breaths, and laughter — as Raper said, “Go to Hulu and watch your favorite comedy” — are all great for relieving stress and anxiety if it becomes too much. It’s not exactly the best time of the school year, but there are certain things that you can do to make sure you survive finals week!

Be organized. Plan.

Just thinking about all of the work that you have to complete in such a short amount of time is usually the cause of stress and anxiety itself. In order to avoid these mental freak outs, it is important to be organized, make a schedule for finals and stick to it! Be realistic in your scheduling and only put down as much work as you believe you can actually do in one day.

Having a finals schedule mapped out will infinitely help reduce stress in and of itself because the work will seem much more feasible to accomplish.

Take study breaks.

Taking breaks is one of the main things Raper stressed should be followed. Too much stress and anxiety can be counterproductive if it reaches a point where you do not even know where to begin.

“It’s good to remember the importance of ‘balance.’  Don’t sit down for a marathon study/paper writing session. Plan to work efficiently (no Facebook/email/texting) for 45 minutes and then take a 15 minute break (take a walk, get something to eat, chat with friends, etc.),” Raper said. “But then end the break after 15 minutes and do another 45 minutes of work.”

Study breaks will allow your brain to take a breather and keep you from getting too tired or exhausted from studying. They will also help you stay on task without getting frustrated or a headache from reading too much material or working too hard. But make sure to practice self-control and only allow yourself brief breaks, otherwise you could find yourself seriously procrastinating and wasting time.

Exercise.

It is a proven fact that exercise reduces stress. Physical exercise decreases the production of stress hormones and can work off anxiety.

Doing any sort of mild to moderate exercise for at least 15 minutes will give you these effects and you will undeniably be able to feel the difference. Students who try to implement a regular exercise schedule during finals find it much easier to cope with stress.

When you feel like you’re about to doze off or are getting really tired, throw on your running shoes and go for a walk or run on the trails behind Reynolda, take a yoga class or even practice it in your room, or head to Reynolds Gym for 15 to 30 minutes on the elliptical or hop on the treadmill.

Even if you don’t exercise regularly, be sure to squeeze in some physical movement during finals week — if for no reason other than to get a break from the monotony of the library, study lounges and desks. Exercising will also keep you healthy and keep you from getting sick, which is the last thing you need to add to your worries.

Sleep.

Although this seems obvious, make sure you get a good amount of zzzs during exam week. As unavoidable as it may seem to pull all-nighters, the lasting effects of doing so could be detrimental. Your chances of getting sick substantially increases when you are sleep deprived and your ability to be productive, perform well — or just function normally, plummet. Without sleep, your mind will be exhausted from all the information being jammed in there. Also, sleep will also help you retain information better and thus you’ll do better on your test. Even if you get less sleep than normal, be sure to sleep some! Even power naps can make a world of difference during finals.

Listen to music.

A convenient stress reliever that is often overlooked is music! Listening to music has shown to have numerous benefits. It can help you relieve stress, calm you down, or even stimulate your mind depending on the type of music you are listening to.

Although many people can’t listen to music while doing work, there are people who believe listening to classical music while studying seriously benefits them academically. If you aren’t a Beethoven fan, any lyric-less music (try movie soundtracks) is good to  break the silence while studying.

For those of you who this doesn’t work for, try listening to upbeat music when you find yourself getting drowsy to wake yourself up mentally. Or, if you need to relax, just listen to some of your favorite slower songs.

Eat healthy.

Late night studying and being on a time crunch can have you reaching for a quick meal of unhealthy snacks or fast food runs that are not fulfilling or satisfying.

Avoid comfort foods like sweets and CookOut runs, skipping meal, and binge-eating. Instead, try a fruit smoothie, a banana or an apple for a snack.

Substituting healthier food choices for unhealthy ones will keep you energized for all the studying you have to do and keep you healthy throughout the week.

Also, eating healthier will help your body functioning at its best and ensure you perform to the best of your ability.

Talk to some friends. Be social.

Remember, you’re not the only one going through this! Just talking to a friend or being social about the stress you’re going through will not only make you happier but also help you realize you’re not alone.

Take your study breaks with friends, exercise with others, go to the Pit for a quick bite with a friend.

Studying in groups can make doing work more fun, and it can also give you someone to keep you in check when you start to lose focus.

So when it feels like there aren’t enough hours in a day and you reach that point where you think you can’t handle everything on your plate, just take a deep breath and keep these simple tips in mind. You’ll be on your way to summer in no time!