By BRETT MARSHALL, CSU Public Relations Intern

The snow is melting. The temperatures have finally crawled into the 60s and all you want to do is go outside and enjoy the weather and get on with your summer. But alas, you stare down at your planner and see the list of 20 things you have to complete before Finals Week comes to a close. And as you stare down at the list, you probably start thinking one or more of the following five things:

1. Sleeping all of your problems away. Your problems and stress can’t hurt or affect you if you’re sleeping, right? Everything will be just fine once you wake up.
2. It’s okay to let it all out. Finals are one of those times when life comes at you really fast and it can be overwhelming. Sometimes the best thing to do is to let the waterworks operate at full capacity.
3. Switching majors. If you’re not going to sleep or cry, you may consider switching majors. You look over notecards and at final projects and study guides and start thinking to yourself, “Do I really want to do this the rest of my life?”
4. Sometimes you think you just need a change of scenery; this college town just isn’t doing it. The professors stink, you haven’t found the perfect best friend and you’re just not happy and feel like you need a fresh start.
5. Dropping out. There are two types of college students in the world – those who have thought about dropping out because of stress…and liars. It’s a normal feeling. Everything piles up and it just feels like you’ll never get it done and the only remaining solution is to quit and give up.

Here’s the thing though, it’s all going to be okay. Finals are stressful and have the tendency to be overwhelming and chances are you probably will think about some of those things above.. and that’s okay, just don’t let it consume you. Instead, use some of these tips to help you push through and get to the summer with a smile on your face!

1. Take breaks. Don’t over exhaust yourself with endless hours of studying. Hop on YouTube and watch a funny cat video. Grab some friends and take a walk outside. Blast some music. Take a power nap. Eat a snack. Just give your mind a break and decompress a little bit for 20-30 minutes and get back at it. Studies have shown that taking breaks actually helps you do better, so don’t hesitate to take one.
2. Form a study group. Whether it’s with your roommates or classmates, find some people to bounce ideas off of and help you study. It keeps the mood light and makes studying a little more fun. One of the best ways to solidify that you know something is being able to teach someone else. Explain to your roommate something they know nothing about and see if they understand. Have your classmate run some flashcards by you, so you can nail those definitions.
3. Visit a tutor. Campuses always offer lots of tutors to help you with whatever you might be struggling with. Asking for help doesn’t make you look bad or like you’re dumb. It shows you’re serious about your education and that you want to learn. Visit a tutor so you can get the knowledge and resources you need to get a good grade on your final exam.
4. Talk to your professor. Professors are there to help you learn. If you get stuck or start to freak out about your tests, stop into their office hours and ask for some help or about what specific material you should look over. Chances are they will be able to help you and you’ll be more prepared when test day rolls around.
5. Don’t be afraid of a bad score. Everyone has had a bad test at some point in their life. Don’t let it define you. You can always retake a class. That one test will not be a difference maker in the rest of your life. Just take a deep breath, realize it’s going to be okay and work hard to do better the next time around.

So to summarize, it’s okay to feel a little stressed about finals and like you want to quit school and give up, but just remember to relax, take breaks and use your resources. You’ll get through them and be on your way the next chapter of your life — you  got this!