This is not going to be your typical "Finals 101" post. Nope, not happening on my turf. You are a college student, you signed up for all the ups and downs of college. There is a way to gracefully defeat finals week, and I am going to guide you through it, because I have faith in your intelligence and will to get through finals. Stay Away From Coffee. I know, all my coffee peeps will be horrified by this, but I stand by my words. If you're a one-coffee-in-the-morning kind of person, then do your thing. If not, don't become a part of the vicious caffeine cycle that many college students and young professionals are already entrapped in. Caffeine is a highly addictive substance, and drinking upwards of three or four cups of coffee a day can make you became physically dependent on it. Sleep 8 Hours a Night. You cannot retain information when you are not getting enough sleep. Also, you build immunity when you sleep, so if you are not getting a full night's sleep, you will be more susceptible to sickness. That is the last thing you need. When you are not getting in your 5 REM sleep cycles in your sleep, your body will try to make it up during other nights. This means that by getting behind on your sleep in one night, you are going to ruin it for yourself for the rest of the week. So put down your books, tuck your laptop away, and just sleep when your body tells you to. Don't Allow Your Textbooks to Consume You. When you have the same thing in your face, over and over again, you are not going to be excited or energized by it. Make sure you are taking breaks, working out, or doing things that are fun for you. Cramming information does not work, so don't make yourself suffer. Have Faith in Yourself. I can't tell you how important it is to tell yourself that you are capable of doing well on your finals. When I am not feeling confident, I look in the mirror and give myself a pep talk. I know that the idea may seem foreign, and a bit strange, but it works wonders. If you are not believing in yourself, it just spreads negativity in your studies and worries, which is the last thing that you need. In the words of Mae Mobely from The Help, "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." Have a Study Strategy. Study smart. Come up with a schedule or a motivating way to study. I like to study for 45 minutes to an hour, and then give myself a 10 minute break so that I am not overwhelmed. Also, when I finish a page of a paper, I give myself a little break. Another strategy that works for me is hand writing my notes, and reviewing course material aloud. This may not work for you, but figure out what does, and use it. Stay Away From Social Media. Let's be real. Social media is poison. You open Facebook or Instagram, and half an hour later you are watching those speed food tutorials, wondering if you could do it in Guild kitchen. I know plenty of people who delete their social media apps during finals week in order to stay focused and lessen the chances of being distracted. Eat Well. A balanced diet is key. Make sure you are eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with little healthy snacks in between. Water, fruits, and vegetables are so important because they stimulate brain power. When you are hungry, you are more likely...