College life can be very stressful and with finals week around the corner, the stress level students encounter may take on a whole new level. Common symptoms of stress one may experience are: anxiety, moodiness, body-aches and sleeplessness.

Stress may also cause time management problems. With many deadlines for assignments time is an important factor. Therefore, it is common to want to compromise other things to prioritize academic success.

Academic success is indeed important, but, it is also important to understand that good nutrition, proper sleep, physical activity and an effective stress management technique is essential to ensure a successful finals season.

The following are a few tips that may help:

1. Make a list – For many, making a list is a way of feeling organized and in control. It gives one the opportunity to put things in perspective, allowing one to reduce the stress of schedules.

“Making daily lists makes my life a lot easier,” said student Jennifer Gomez. “I can honestly say it has helped me deal with stress in a different way. Without my list, I feel like I would have no order. I like to make my list the night before. I list in the order of importance and try my best to accomplish everything in the list. If I do not accomplish something on the list, it comes to the top of my list the following day.”

2. Eat nutritious meals – It often occurs during this season that many students forget to eat, or sometimes over eat. It is important to remember that eating smart has its benefits, and it is crucial especially during this time of the season for students. The better you eat, the better you feel and chances are, the better you will perform.

3. Exercise – Does the thought “I don’t have time,” sound familiar? This is one of the activities many tend to compromise because of the time it takes. However, taking a break from studying to exercise can be more beneficial than one thinks. Exercise releases endorphins, it provides energy and it makes one feel better. A gym is not required, put on your running shoes and head over to the American River Trail.

“I have acute stress, so my stress ends really fast,” said student Marcie Torres. “Most of the time during finals season, I am able to keep calm. However, if I do begin to feel stress kicking in, I energize through running and music.”

4. Take breaks – Don’t just drown in books, and lecture notes. Taking small breaks in between studying can be effective. Treat yourself to something you will enjoy and look forward to. Examples are: boba, coffee, frozen yogurt. Taking a moment to walk away from the study zone to treat yourself can be more effective than you think.

“Yogurtland is my spot when taking a break off studying,” said student Margarita Lopez. “It’s not only delicious but budget-friendly too.”

5. Rest – Resting is so important to the body and brain. “All-nighters,” memorizing all the material for an exam in one night, is quite common amongst not all but many students. However, this often does more harm than good to stress levels.

When cramming, students commit to making the brain function around short term memory.

Push through these next few weeks. Study hard, and finish strong Hornets.