Finals means that you’re probably doing a bit more studying than your used to, you’re not getting as much sleep as you should, and stress levels are at an all time high. Fortunately, final days end at 11:45, giving us plenty of time to stay in (or go out) and study.

The first thing you can do to prepare yourself and to limit your stress is to avoid distractions… here’s a big one, your phone! Keeping your cell phone out of site, deleting your social media for the week, giving it to your parents, anything it takes to keep it away. Cell Phones are the largest distractions we allow. They ruin our focus and waste hours of important time.

Don’t neglect the power of a study break. Once you find yourself losing focus during a long period of studying, get up, walk around, and leave the space you’re in for a while. Breaks help you avoid getting too overworked and will refresh your mind. However, during your break don’t go onto your phone (if you really feel the need to check it do so quickly then put it away), instead do something active or make yourself something healthy to eat for good energy and to keep you working.

Teaching other students specific material is a great way to help someone else and yourself. Study groups are good for this reason but be careful not to allow others to be a distraction. Meeting out in a mellow public place like a cafe is ideal, it doesn’t allow you to go off and do anything else but focus on what is right in front of you.

As for being able to schedule and manage your time properly, know what you have to get done and prioritize the most important things. Planners are really helpful for getting a good look at the entire week, or simply jot down a to-do list, organized by class. Procrastinating till the night before your final to finish all your assignments and studying is not the way to go, start now so you have plenty of time to review.

That’s all I got, finals is always an obstacle for high schoolers but as long as you keep your focus and dedicate some real time into getting your work done, you will go through the week without much stress and with the grades you worked for.