As soon as December hits, it feels like the world shifts into two completely different energies: The festive feeling of the holidays and the gut-wrenching stress of finals. One second you’re listening to holiday music, and the next you’re staring at your laptop, wondering how you have three papers, two exams, and a group project due within the same week.
It’s honestly the most chaotic crossover of the year. Balancing both seasons at once sometimes feels like running in circles. Trust me, you’re not alone when I say this; we’re all doing our best to make it through December with our GPA and sanity intact.
The good news? You don’t have to choose between going out to celebrate or staying in to study. With the right mindset and these six strong habits, you’ll definitely be able to survive finals without missing out on everyone’s favorite time of the year.
Remember That Studying Is A Privilege
It’s so easy to get caught up in comparing stress levels and complaining about exams, but something that’s helped me is reminding myself that studying is actually a privilege. Not everyone has the opportunity to pursue a degree or learn in a supportive campus environment.
When you shift your mindset, even slightly, it’s easier to approach your work with gratitude instead of dread. It doesn’t make finals magically fun, but it does make them feel a bit more meaningful. Sometimes, that boost in perspective is exactly what we need to get started.
As Sarah Liez says, “Once you recognize the privilege of a college education, you develop greater appreciation for your coursework.”
This line can be a much-needed reminder at times when we feel overwhelmed and frustrated. If you look at it like each assignment is one step towards something you’re lucky to be able to pursue, keeping that gratitude in mind, even just a little, can make all the difference when motivation feels low.
Create A Plan For Finals Week
Organization is your best friend this time of year. Seriously. Grab your planner, open your notes app, or create a quick checklist, whichever works best for you! Write down every due date, exam time, and project deadline.
Then break everything into small, double steps. When your week is mapped out clearly, it feels a lot less overwhelming. Instead of staring at everything you have to do, you focus on what you have to do today. Plus, checking things off your list is a total serotonin boost.
Give Yourself Holiday Moments To Look Forward To
Finals shouldn’t mean you have to shut down every ounce of enjoyment in your life. You’re allowed to enjoy the season even when you’re studying. Lucky for us, San Jose has so many wonderful things to do during the holidays! So go ice-skating, bake those cookies, and watch a holiday movie after finishing a big assignment.
See the lights around campus and grab a peppermint mocha as a reward for surviving a long study session. Little bursts of holiday happiness make the workload feel so much lighter, and having something to look forward to keeps you going when your brain feels fried.
If you’re not sure what to do this holiday season in San Jose, I highly recommend visiting San Jose’s website to immerse yourself in all of the holiday specials San Jose has to offer. This is a staple for me around this time of year!
A Day At A Time
December is hectic, and it’s so easy to get overwhelmed thinking about everything at once. Take it one day at a time and break down your tasks.
Focus on what’s in front of you, the same due tomorrow, the chapter you’re reviewing, the quiz you’re preparing for. When you shrink your to-do list into daily pieces, everything feels more manageable. You don’t have to conquer the entire week; you just have to get through today. And honestly, that mindset makes a world of difference.
Jordan Mendiola mentions, “Life is a long game, and results don’t need to happen overnight.” You don’t need to solve everything today. You don’t need to achieve every single goal this week. You just need to focus on what’s in front of you.”
When you’re constantly thinking five steps ahead, it’s almost impossible not to feel overwhelmed. Give yourself room to breathe, room to think, and room to actually get things done without spiraling. This mindset will make it easier for you to stay consistent with your goals!
Study Smarter, Not Harder
With finals, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need to study for hours on end with zero breaks, five different notebooks, and three energy drinks to feel productive. But honestly, the key to surviving finals isn’t about grinding yourself into exhaustion; it’s about studying smarter.
The truth is, not every method works for everyone, and now is definitely not the time to pressure yourself into some brand new study strategy just because it works for someone else.
Instead, lean into what you already know to help you learn. If rewriting your notes helps the information stick, do that. If teaching the material out loud makes things click, go for it. If you concentrate better with background noise, find your perfect song and let it play. Studying smarter means being intentional, not overwhelmed.
Knowing your limits is extremely important; if your focus is slipping, or you read the same sentence five times, that’s your sign to pause. Powering through burnout just leads to frustration. But giving yourself space to recharge means you can come back fresher and actually understand what you’re reviewing.
This is also the best time to grab a study snack.
Most importantly, remember that productivity isn’t measured by how stressed you are. It’s measured by how effectively you’re learning. Finals season is all about strategy. Work with your brain, not against it, and you’ll be surprised by how much more confident and in control you feel.
Don’t Forget To Celebrate Yourself
When finals finally wrap up, it’s so easy to immediately jump to the next thing. Holiday plans, picking up more shifts at work, family gatherings, or even getting ahead on the next semester. But before you rush into anything else, take a second to actually acknowledge what you just accomplished.
You made it through an entire semester of late nights, group projects, exams, discussions, and tiny moments of growth that you probably didn’t even notice while they were happening. That deserves celebration.
We don’t give ourselves nearly enough credit for the effort we put in. We’re so used to chasing the next goal or worrying about the next deadline that we forget to appreciate the hard work that got us here. Celebrating yourself doesn’t have to be dramatic or over the top.
It can be as simple as taking yourself out for a sweet treat, spending a day doing absolutely nothing, buying yourself the thing you’ve had your eye on for a while, or just giving yourself a moment to indulge in the calmness you’ve earned over break.
So give yourself that pause, give yourself the credit, give yourself kindness. You deserve to rest and enjoy your time off. Remember that you didn’t just survive the semester, you completed it, learned from it, and carried yourself through it with strength you might not even realize you have.
Celebrate that. Celebrate you.
I know December can feel like a tug-of-war between wanting to curl up with a holiday movie and needing to finish a research paper. But in reality, the two don’t have to compete. With structure, intention, and a strong mentality, you can absolutely take on both.
You’re not just pushing through finals, you’re learning how to take care of yourself in the process. By the time you submit that last assignment, you’ll feel proud, relieved, and ready to step into the break with a clearer mind and a lighter heart.
Which December habit are you planning on adding to your routine this week? Let us know @HerCampusSJSU!