With Thanksgiving recently past us, many people still have their mind on how their break was and are no doubt looking forward to the extended break for the holidays. These breaks are a great time to be together with family and friends.

However, this means we are now only two weeks away from finals week. The end of the semester is nearly upon us, and I would imagine not everyone is as prepared as they should be. With only two weeks left before finals week, it’s certainly something we need to start thinking about if we haven’t already.

For some of us, this may mean end-of-semester projects that are due. For others, it may mean a boat-load of exams we get to look forward to taking. Or, it might be a more laid-back week of few commitments of little challenge. Different majors require different schedules, and some are much more demanding than others. Nevertheless, finals week signifies the end of the semester in which all classes are concluded, so everyone is expected to finish each class as strongly as possible.

Here is some insight into how to better prepare for finals week. Some of this may seem old news, but it’s really beneficial in the long run. Plan out your schedule and your assignments. Take note of which assignments are larger and would require more time as well as which ones are due first. Think through your schedule and take note of your free time which you plan on devoting to the assignments and plan out how much you would like to get done within each period of time. You don’t have to scrutinize every detail, but having a mental outline of your assignments and time is very helpful during times like this.

What about stress? Are there any ways to keep stress levels at an appropriate level during this time? I remember this past April, there were free massages given in the Kirkhof Center. There are many ways to help maintain a calm but determined mindset as finals approach. Spend some time with friends, listen to relaxing music or anything that helps relax you. I’m not saying to slack off on your preparation, but too much stress is always counterproductive.

Some people have heavier workloads than others, and some people handle stress better than others. Regardless of whatever happens with your own finals schedule, I hope that everyone’s exams and end-of-semester assignments go well.

Be prepared, and good luck.