FINALS.

HELLO. I’m sure you’ve all been waiting with bated breath for my next blog entry. I’ve been M.I.A. due to something you are probably all familiar with: finals.

Here’s basically what the past couple of weeks have been like for  me in one picture.

Have you been dying the past week and a half since Thanksgiving? Me too. I feel your pain. I am currently sitting in the library eating an apple and tortilla with peanut butter for lunch, which is really not going to cut it until dinner, but I’m also out of meal plan money. I’ve been observing all these frantic-looking, ill-rested students (one of whom is in the mirror staring back at me, ha) and thought that we could all use a little bit of advice to get through the next couple days. Not the “oh make sure you get enough sleep and eat a good breakfast” advice, but like, REAL advice.

So, here are a couple ways I’ve learned to make finals week more bearable, and maybe even a little fun.

1) Eat good food, NOT food that is good for you – unless you really enjoy that type of food – but the food that makes you feel warm and cozy and comfortable. Last year, my friend Lizzy and I did the Exam Week Cookout Challenge – we tried to go to Cookout every night of exams. Didn’t succeed, but IT WAS AWESOME. Gave me something to look forward to. I highly recommend it. (Honorable mentions to Kyle and Bailey, who also participated.)

Here is an example of what I consider “good” food.

2) Try to look at your lack of preparation for your tests as an adventure. Like, oh wow, I am NOT prepared for this exam at all…how well can I do? Make it into a game. How late will I stay up? How high can I score if I’ve only studied for one hour? Taking a step back and almost laughing at yourself about your procrastination is always more fun than working yourself up into a cloud of anxiety about it.

3) Wear fuzzy socks to the coffee shop where you’re studying. I did this last weekend. It made everything a lot more enjoyable.

4) Listen to Hamilton and the new Hamilton mixtape (featuring Usher, people!!). I did this, too. I know I’m late on the trend and you’re probably tired of hearing about it from everyone. Sorry. But it’s great paper-writing background music.

Listen or you will be sorry.

5) Drink a ton of water. It makes you feel more awake and it makes your face look less puffy. At least that’s what I hear.

Last but not least…

6) Call your mom or dad. Or your mom and your dad. They’ll make you feel better. They might send you Starbucks $$$. Or if your parents are super uptight about your grades, call mine, because they always make me feel better.

Good luck, people!!!! As my mom always says, you know more than you think you know.