As if choosing whether to buy your boyfriend another bottle of cologne or a new dress shirt for Christmas wasn’t tough enough, along with the frigid days of December come the scariest two words a student could endure… Final exams!

Christmas is just around the corner and with all those sleigh bells ring-jing-jingling, how are you supposed to find enough peace and quiet to study for chemistry, pre-calculus and English? However, here are some study tips to help you get through those freezing cold days.

Tip 1: Do not cram! Set aside time each day to study for each exam. Use the 50-10 minute rule. This rule consists of focusing on the subject for 50 minutes straight. After those 50 minutes, take 10 minutes to clear your head. Set an alarm and stick with the schedule. Organize a calendar which outlines a study plan–this way you can actually see which subject you need to revise next, and feel even better once you can cross that day off.

Tip 2: Be relaxed when studying! It’s normal for empty coffee cups and pizza-stained sweatpants to come with final exams, but having a healthy mind and body is the most important thing to do while studying. Make sure you have a quiet environment where you will be free from distraction. Figure out if you work better while sitting up straight at a desk or sprawled across the floor with your notes surrounding you. Snack on power foods such as peanut butter, avocado, and granola while you dive into a textbook for the next hour.

Tip 3: Go to tutoring! Your teacher is only there to help. No matter how scary your old English teacher may seem, he knows what is going to be on the test. Go before and after school to ask questions. Have your teacher create extra problems for you. Once you understand the material, work with a study group. Multiple minds working together for the same goal can bring creativity and a breath of fresh air.

Remember when studying to turn your phone off, light a candle, and take a deep breath. These exams will be over before you know it.