Welcome back, BU dancers – and wishing you a warm and happy holiday season! But before we can get to spreading the holiday cheer and sipping cocoa by the fire, we have to conquer the dreaded beast of finals.

Thankfully, we’re here to share a few much-needed study tips to help you ~dance~ through finals (see what we did there?) in a breeze.

Take Regular Breaks

Our personal favorite study tip? Take lots of breaks! Frequent, short breaks help you be more productive than longer, less frequent ones. Use a Pomodoro timer to keep score of your study session. After 50 minutes of work, you’ve earned a 10 minute break! Rinse and repeat until you know the material like the back of your hand.

Snack on Brain Food

The right snack is not only delicious – it also helps you concentrate! Protein and fiber keep you full, while omega-3s serve as building blocks for your brainpower. Eat a tasty snack combining all of the above, like raw almonds or veggies and hummus, to maximize your studying potential.

Use a Reward System

Positive reinforcement is the best way to learn, according to psychology – so, what better way to study than to reward yourself? Every time you finish a chapter or chunk of notes, give yourself a little treat, like an MnM or five minutes of scrolling through the @bostonufitrec Instagram account! (And liking all of our dance photos, of course.)

Stay Balanced with Self-Care

As you move into finals week, don’t forget to take care of yourself. While it can be tempting to hole yourself up in the library (especially with Mugar being open 24 hours during finals!), it’s important to stay healthy and sane during this stressful time. For us, self-care means taking time to dance – such as taking one of our end-of-semester dance classes! – and relax with our BFFs at the BU Dance Program!

What’s your favorite way to study for finals?

Let us know in the comments or @BUDanceProgram on Twitter!