It’s that time of year again that always sneaks up on us when we need it the least….finals.

From raising that 89% to a 90% or just trying to pass precalculus, here’s 5 ways to help you on the right path to staying focused and motivated without leaving bags under your eyes the next morning:

1. Plan and Organize

The same goes for preparing to write an essay, trying to build a house, or coaching a team… everything needs to be planned. Predict how many hours you feel the need to study with each subject and add them to the reminders section of your cell phone or write them down in a planner so that you’re organized and have an idea of what you need to accomplish that day. Having a game plan for what you need to get done is key.

2. Give Yourself a Break (Without Breaking Your Phone)

Set an alarm to ring for every 45 minutes that you have been studying (or however many you prefer) but be careful and make sure that during those breaks you aren’t dazing off on Instagram or TriviaCrack. Instead, do something that will also benefit your study habits. Such as eating a snack, making a coffee, or walking your pets. It’s ok to scroll through your phone for a little, just don’t blame this blog when you look up and the room is now pitch black and you have 2%.

3. Taking Advantage of Your Technology Other Than Uploading Pictures to Facebook

If you rely on technology for everything nowadays I know of some perfect websites and tools that I highly recommend. Websites such as Quizlet and StudyBlue give you the advantage of making multiple flashcards three times as faster than simply taking the time to write them on notecards. Nobody has time for that anyways…

4. New supplies

This may sound strange, but I find it helpful… and that’s finding the right supplies to take the boringness out of studying. Stop by the Target dollar section and take a look at the snacks you’ve never knew existed or those colorful, sparkly pens you could take notes with! Hey, anything’s better than a simple, old paper and pencil for making study guides. The more creative you are with your notes, the more organized and attentive your work will be!

5. The Right Mind Set

In a study done by Nationwidechildrens.org, research shows that kids need between 9 and 9 ½ hours of sleep in order to stay focused on their daily routines. Meanwhile, they are actually getting somewhere between 7 and 7 ¼ hours. From looking at the students at Costa, they all look like they got 5 hours. Not drinking caffeine after 9pm or eating really helps me since that’s the time when your digestive system slows down while it is preparing for you to go to sleep. In addition, simply tell yourself what time you want to go to bed and shut off your phone once that time is reached. If you need help falling asleep, drinking something warm or taking a soothing shower usually does the trick since it will loosen your muscles and relieve stress. It is really important to have as few mental breakdowns as possible.

Finals is probably one of the most stressful weeks of a student’s life, but with the right work ethics and strategies, you can make it through!