As finals week approaches, so does a storm of stress and anxiety induced by the sudden deluge of assignments and tests being assigned over a short period of time.

Different people deal with the stress of finals week in many unique ways.  Some meditate, while others reward themselves with a little Netflix or TV for their hard work, even though this sometimes leads to procrastination, which I am very fond of.

This article will teach you about the many ways you can beat the stress of finals week, while steering clear of procrastination and many obstacles that destroy productivity and can lead more stress by preventing you from reaching deadlines on assignments and studying.

The first thing I like to do when getting a lot of stuff done in a little amount of time, is to make a list.  By making a list you have a visual of what you have to do and when you have to do it.  In the list put down the project or thing you have to do, what class it is for and when it is due.

Through doing this you will not forget about deadlines and can cross off anything you get done as you go along.  In addition to a list, another item that is very useful in studying and finals week is a calendar.  Just like the list, a calendar can provide a visual representation of when things are due.  You can put when things are due on the calendar and when you final exams are.

Through the use of lists and calendars, you can provide yourself with a visual of what needs to be done and when you need to study.  While those two items help with staying organized, you‘ll need help staying focused while studying.

When it comes to studying and getting assignments done, there are many distractions.  One of the main distractions is your smartphone.

While you phone is a very helpful tool and can even help you study, it is a distraction.   To avoid the distraction of the smartphone while you are working, put it away. Not just in your pocket, but somewhere you will not see the flash of the screen when you receive a notification from social media, but in a place where you can hear it if you receive an important phone call or text.

The final thing you can do during finals week to insure you get everything done and do your best on all of your tests and assignments is to take breaks and get enough sleep.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, sleep is important to the functioning of your brain because while you sleep you brain is recovering and getting ready for the next day by creating new pathways that help you retrieve and remember information.

In addition to getting enough sleep, it is also very important to take breaks while studying.  Through taking breaks, you can help your brain refresh and think.  This is very helpful for when you experience the dreaded writers block that one might experience while working on a long essay or *cough* Edge Article on Finals Week *cough*.

Those are some quick tips on how to keep a level head during finals week. While this might be for some the most stressful week of the year, remember, Christmas break is almost here!