If it were a game, the objective would simply read: survive finals.

But it is not a game, nor is it a three-act story where we see the character quickly and easily close all the story beats before life returns to normal at the end.

No, it is the end of the semester — the culmination of months of work that features a hectic balancing act where students have to juggle long-term projects and short-term stressors such as tests.

It can be a challenging time, but it is one we feel we can offer some advice on.

One way to get through it is to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel — the good light. The one that means winter break.

But optimism alone will not boost a grade, so it is important to study, stay well-rested and manage your workload as best you can. 

Some people may have a light finals week (lucky), and some have exams in every class. The perceived injustice you may feel being one of the former may infringe upon your work. Do not think of the student who gets to go home earlier than everyone else. You too will be there soon enough. 

But surviving not only finals but also the end of the semester is always hard. People struggle to see the other side, that light at the end of the tunnel. 

One of the reasons for this is burnout. People are studying for five classes, working on those five projects, all at the same time. Anxiety and stress take over, and students feel they have little time to do anything for themselves.

It is important to make sure you are taking care of those small moments when you are not studying to take time to relax and remember that it will pass.

Mastering that balance can be tough, and, for as hard as they may be to summon on command, discipline and consistency are key in achieving whatever your goals are. Discipline is about holding yourself accountable to get all of your work done and ensure you are prepared for all that is coming up, but it is also about knowing when to take a step back to recharge. 

Working ahead helps, too. If you handle the weekly assignment load early, it frees up more of your time to work on the big stuff.

Whatever your plan, it is important not to give up. You have already put in months of work; you can not let burnout in the latter part of the semester sink the ship. Lock in and remember: Those lights at the end of the tunnel are holiday ones. 

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