Getting through a rigorous Finals Week or any particularly strenuous stretch of time without getting sick or giving up is an art. However, there are a few helpful tips that can keep you moving:

1. Try to associate one area (ie. a library, room, even desk) with a particular task. This makes sure that whenever you get into that area you’ll automatically be in “the zone”.
2. If you’re a late-night studier, make sure that you do not return to an area where you previously fell asleep involuntarily. Otherwise, you’re just asking for a repeat.
3. Make sure you eat well. Instead of picking up a quick meal at the campus BK, try to bring something with you like a simple sandwich and some fruits. Also, (and this one is killing me) trade in your coffee for a juice. After getting over the initial slump of losing my Starbucks fix, I’ve found that a nice green tea can have just the same effect.
4. Balance breaks and distractions. You never want to spend too much time on a single task. Breaking things up can be helpful as long as you don’t get too distracted. For some people, setting up a schedule (i.e. 50 minutes studying, ten minutes break) can simplify things.
5. Know when to stop. If you’re feeling like you’re about to break, just quit for the night and go to sleep. You’ll be more productive with a good night’s sleep behind you than you would if you try to push through it.
6. Beware of computers. It’s often easy to convince yourself that you need a computer to complete a task and you’ll waste hours poking at the depths of the internet before pulling yourself away (without finishing what you had originally intended).

Of course, by writing this I have already violated at least half of my own recommendations but hopefuly they can be of some use to fellow students.