It’s that time of year again; finals are upon us. Hopefully you’re confident entering this time and are well prepared but, if you’re like most students, your stress is ratcheted up to an 11 and you’re questioning if you’re doing enough to get the grade you need. Whether you’re looking for advice or reassurance, here is a list of 10 study tips to help you succeed as the semester wraps up.

Don’t procrastinate — Honestly, if you’re just starting to study now, you’re probably already behind. Most students find the information they learned at the beginning of the semester is already forgotten come finals. Instead, focus on good study habits throughout the semester and finals will be a breeze.

Create a study schedule — In order to make time for things, schedule everything in your days from work to class times to hanging out with friends. To ensure you give yourself enough time to study, make sure you carve out time in your schedule.

Set a timer — It’s easy to become overwhelmed with how much we need to study and even easier to get distracted when we try to sit down, especially if you are feeling stressed. Instead, make it more manageable by setting a timer for 30 minutes and putting your phone out of reach. Breaking studying into smaller chunks will help you feel less overwhelmed and, if you can’t reach your phone easily, you’ll be less likely to pick it up to use the calculator and end up scrolling Instagram for an hour.

Take a breath and take a break — Whether you set a timer or not, getting up and taking a break can actually help you remember more. Students get so worried about cramming it all in, but often a break to walk around the block or grab a snack will do more to help make sure they are taking care of their bodies and minds. A well cared for mind is a mind ready to learn.

Find a study group — Accountability is key when you’re trying to take on tasks that you don’t look forward to. A good study group can ensure you keep that appointment to study and may even lead to friendships beyond the class.

Teach someone else — While you’re meeting with your study group, take turns being the one to explain concepts. Doing this will help to build your confidence and reinforce your understanding of what you’re learning.

Mix it up — Rewrite notes, make flashcards, read aloud, etc. Similar to teaching the information, interacting with it in a variety of ways will help to build your memory of the material.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help — Dallas College offers free tutoring assistance both in person in the Learning Commons and on-line. If you’re just not understanding a concept, the on-campus tutors may be able to help. Also, don’t be afraid to ask the professor, but they will be much more inclined to help if you do this earlier in the semester rather than later (See Tip No. 1).

Eat well — College students are notorious for their bad eating habits, yet how we fuel our bodies and our brains can have an impact on how well we study. Foods like berries, dark chocolate, nuts, protein, fish and a rainbow of veggies all help our minds be more alert and keep us from feeling sluggish.   

Get enough sleep — Many students think if they stay up cramming for an exam they will score better, but studies actually show the opposite. Our brains need deep, restorative sleep to process the information we take in each day, so shutting those books early enough to get a good night’s rest may actually boost your scores more than studying all night.

Whether you’re looking for advice now or a way to be better prepared next semester, the key is to set good habits early on, take good care of your body and mind, and know you don’t have to go it alone. Asking for help is not a sign of failure, but rather of strength. Utilizing the tools available to you will make you a better student in the end.