Whether you’re a freshman about to experience midterm exams for the first time or a senior familiar with the three-day test-taking marathon, chances are that you have pre-exam anxiety. The best way to get through the week is by eliminating as much stress as possible.

Easier said than done? Maybe, but these tips just might keep you from going crazy.

Before studying:

Make a schedule

Teachers tell us every year that the best way to remember information is by studying a little bit each night. In a perfect world, maybe that’s possible. But what happens when you don’t have time for that, and all of a sudden it’s the week before exams? Cramming, at that point, is unavoidable—but it’s possible to cram without feeling too much pressure. Take a look at the exam schedule, and make a study schedule based on that. Decide which tests you’ll need to devote more time to studying for, and make those subjects your primary focus.

Come up with a study plan for each class

Take full advantage of study guides. If a teacher gives you a study guide, start there. For specific classes like math, ask your teacher for review problems if he or she didn’t already give you a review packet. Review sheets are wonderful because they usually provide an example of nearly every problem that you’ll find on the test. In other classes, vocabulary words serve as a great memory refresher.

While studying:

Take lots of study breaks

If you have to cram, six straight hours of studying one subject isn’t going to work. Instead, study for set periods of time and take breaks in between. Review a chapter from history class and then grab a quick snack. Study your foreign language for an hour and then take a 10 minute rest.

Don’t procrastinate

Stalking friends on Facebook, chatting on Skype, texting, and watching TV never fail to waste hours of time that you could spend studying. The easiest way to avoid these distractions is to get off the Internet and put your phone in another room. If you must, log back on to the cyber world during a study break, but use your time wisely and keep track of your break. At night, go ahead and relax with by watching “Gossip Girl” or “Pretty Little Liars,” but watch one show instead of three or four.

Find what works for you

Study groups can be great—if you’re in a dedicated group. Last year, I tried a study group for the first time, and it wasn’t for me. We ended up spending nearly four hours at the library, but covered only about a quarter of what we planned to review. If you think that your friends might distract you from getting anything accomplished, then don’t join them. Social studying isn’t for everyone.

During exam week:

Get sleep

It’s essential to get a full seven or eight hour rest each night during exam week. It might be tempting to stay up all night cramming for that chemistry midterm, but a few extra hours of sleep might be more beneficial. What’s the point of studying all night only to fall asleep in the middle of the test?

Eat well

Not much can be worse than trying to take an exam on an empty stomach. Eat well the night before, and eat a good breakfast the morning of your tests. Refuel during the half hour break in between exams with a light snack and try to avoid fatty foods.

Exercise and listen to music

Music and dancing are two great ways to relieve stress. I learned this last year when my sister forced me to play the Wii game “Just Dance” with her one day after exams. We played for about an hour before we started studying. By the time I opened my textbooks, I was completely relaxed.

Laugh

I got this tip from a YouTube video my advisory group watched. It’s so true. Laughing is a de-stressor that can work anytime. When I’m having a bad day — whether it’s due to stress from midterms or just from a hard day at school — laughing always makes me feel better. So watch a hilarious video, check out a funny website, or maybe even read one of Ryan Lina’s unique opinion pieces before hitting the books.