As we all know, the time finals roll around during the dreaded last week of the semester, student’s stress levels sky rocket through the roof.

Especially as a beginning college student, having a course load that used to be a year long pushed into one semester can make a student feel extremely stressed.

This stress can lead to unhealthy eating habits, poor judgement, frequent colds or infections, low energy and so much more. However, I believe every new college student should be given some guidelines for how to help prevent this stress from taking over your life.

Some great ways I’ve found most effective are staying active, getting plenty of sleep, taking breaks when studying, going to class during the semester and understanding when your body is telling you to relax.

For one, staying active has been known to release chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers. Also, running connects mind and body, giving you time with yourself to work out any anger, frustration or anything else you may need to work out. According to an Anxiety and Depression Association of America online poll, 14 percent of people use regular exercise to cope with stress.

Getting plenty of sleep is imperative to helping relieve stress. When a person doesn’t sleep, they not only can’t retain information like they would if they were to sleep the proper amount, but they also get the side effects that come with sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation can cause mood changes, abnormal accidents, trouble with thinking and concentration, and weight gain, among others.

Taking a break when studying helps retain information.

Thoughtcatalog.com said “After about two hours of hard studying, your brain starts to crap out on you. It’s best to take five to 10 minute breaks every hour or so. Stretch. Refresh. Breathe. Your mind won’t burn out quite as quickly this way.”

Along with sleeping and taking breaks when studying, going to class during the semester and paying attention is a very strong way you can help keep your grades up and retain the information from the class.

Students retain some information during class when on their phone. Yet, they could be learning so much more if they were to take extensive notes and pay attention to what is being taught. This can improve grades and help students feel more prepared for their final, which can decrease stress during Finals Week.

Lastly, students seem to push themselves too far most of the time. Especially when it is unnecessary, students still seem to over exhaust themselves by doing things that should help them relax but cut into their time that should be spent sleeping. If you feel like your body is telling you to slow down and rest, do that as soon as you can.

In conclusion, I believe doing at least a few of the things above will help prevent all the negative side effects of stress. If none of the remedies listed above help or fit your style, look at some of the ways to distract yourself from stress, talk to friends or start a creative DIY project. Any way you can find to help prevent stress in your life will help overcome the pressures that come with Finals Week.