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Final Exam Stress: 10 Ways To Beat End-Of-Semester Anxiety

10 Ways To Conquer Final Exam Stress
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Senior Writer, The Huffington Post

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tired teenager lying and sleeping

Final exam week can be the most stressful time of the year for high school and college students. With the holidays around the corner and your GPA hanging in the balance, the mere mention of the word "finals" can be enough to send you into a tailspin.

But before you start catastrophizing about every possible worst-case scenario -- flunking your chem final, missing the deadline for your English paper -- take a deep breath and start planning how you'll get through exam period with minimal stress (yes, it's possible: our Twitter follower @LineDalile plays golf to decompress!). Click through the slideshow below for our top 10 tips on beating end-of-semester anxiety, from puppy breaks to Internet plug-ins that block time-wasting sites.

How do you de-stress during exam time? Tell us in the comments below or tweet @HuffPostTeen!

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Before You Go

10 Ways To Beat Final Exam Stress
Find A Fuzzy Friend(01 of10)
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If you don't have an adorable pet of your own, you'll have to call in a favor from a friend on this one. There are few things more calming and purely enjoyable than playing with a puppy or kitty. After 15 minutes of furry fun, you'll be rejuvenated and ready to hit the books again. (credit:shutterstock)
RUN(02 of10)
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Going for even a 20-minute run (preferably outside -- the cool air will wake you up) releases feel-good endorphins to boost your mood and can help quiet an over-active mind. Try to fit in a quick jog after school and before you start studying so that you can hit the books with a clear mind. (credit:shutterstock)
Bake A Healthy Breakfast Treat(03 of10)
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Baking, like drawing or playing music, can be a surprisingly soothing activity that helps silence racing thoughts. Try making a healthy, nutrient-packed goodie -- like these protein-packed pumpkin chia-seed muffins -- and you'll have something fast and brain-fueling to throw into your backpack for breakfast in the morning. (credit:Flickr: Jshontz)
Talk It Out (04 of10)
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Don't keep your anxiety bottled up inside. Sit down after dinner with Mom or Dad for a cup of tea and a chat. Talk them through your plan for finals week, tell them what's stressing you out and ask for any advice they might have. Often, verbalizing the things that are filling our brains with anxiety robs them of their worry-inducing power. (credit:alamy)
Clean Your Desk (05 of10)
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Sometimes decluttering your space is all you need to declutter your mind. Take an hour or so to totally clear out your desk space (and not just cosmetic cleaning, but really giving it a good scrub), and you'll create a place that allows you to totally focus. (credit:alamy)
Create A Detailed Calendar (06 of10)
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Include not only exam dates and paper deadlines, but anything else in your life (gift shopping, swim practice, yoga class) that you need to make time for. Even the act of writing it down -- and color-coding, if you're so inclined -- will make it all feel more doable. (credit:shutterstock)
Perform An Act Of Kindness(07 of10)
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Sometimes, doing something nice for another person is the best way to get out of your head and stop obsessing about your own problems. If you have a little free time on a Saturday afternoon, spend an hour volunteering at a homeless shelter. A simple act like reading your little sister a bedtime story or helping your mom unload groceries can have the save effect. (credit:shutterstock)
Sweat It Out(08 of10)
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Few things are as revitalizing as releasing bodily toxins through a hot yoga class, or if you have access, 30 minutes in a sauna or steam room. Working up a good sweat can make you feel like a new person -- just remember to drink lots of water afterwards to stay hydrated. (credit:AP)
Take A Social Media Break(09 of10)
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Spending too much time on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr when exams are looming can only add to your already-mounting stress levels. Turn off your Facebook email notifications so that you're not tempted to log on, and if you're really having trouble, try LeechBlock, a Firefox add-on that blocks time-wasting sites. (credit:ap)
Listen To Music(10 of10)
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HuffPost Teen blogger Tara Subramaniam has some helpful advice for combatting exam-time stress: "listen to A LOT of music." Taking a break to listen to your favorite album or putting on classical music while you study Chemistry can help you majorly chill out. (credit:alamy)
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