As finals week approaches, this is the time when students start to stress out about their grades and how to prepare themselves for their upcoming exams.

By asking around, here are some tips students and professors came up with to take some anxiety away so those who are stressed out can relax during test time.

For students, this is usually one of the most stressful times of the year, to have all of these tests in one week that can sometimes change grades drastically, in a good or bad way.

Usually students start to stress because they are not prepared or they have not been studying said communication studies professor Robert Humphrey.

“It is not a good idea to cram because it is close to impossible to regurgitate all of the lessons that a student learned throughout the whole year,” Humphrey said.

Speaking to some students, laughter seems to be a good remedy to relieve stress before big test.

“The night before a big test or my finals, I watch Bad Boys of Comedy,” senior communications major Raphael McFarland said. “The next day I am thinking about the jokes and I don’t stress about my test. I do good too.”

For some students, these tactics might not work for them. So Bert Epstein, the director of Clinical Psychology in the Student Health Center made a list on how to reduce stress.

“One of my top points I believe that students should use to relieve stress and anxiety is time management,” he said. “If all of their time is well used, it will be easier to focus and they won’t have to stress about things they missed. Write out a plan on how you are going to study for each test.”

Epstein said that a couple of students go to the Psychological Center during finals week and after, he talks to them and hands them the list of tips to relieve stress. Epstein said he receives a lot of positive feedback.

Freshman criminal justice major Amina Moore said she performs the best when she hangs out with her friends the night before, but she said not too late. Moore believes the positive environment that she is around helps her for the next day when she goes to take her test.

According to Epstein’s list, exercise can also help in dealing in relieving stress. It helps you to relax by releasing natural ‘tranquilizers’ (endorphins) and also improve your sleep. So people, don’t go for a five-mile jog an hour before your test because your body will be worn out. Do it the day before so it can help you get a better night’s rest.

Humphrey also believes that it is helpful to have somebody study with because they might have information that you don’t. Plus it is positive reinforcement from your peer, so students feel better about their knowledge of the material.

Helpful tips coming from students, professors and professionals should help in dealing with stress and test taking.

However, if none of these suggestions work, a good idea would be to go and see Epstein in the Psychological department on the second floor of the Health Center. They are open through finals week and after if students still feel stressed about their tests.

David Green can be reached at [email protected]