Finals. With each passing moment we get closer to the sleep-deprived, coffee-chugging gauntlet that seems to pack an entire semester’s worth of homework into a week. Welcome back, stress.Finals can be tough. GPAs are on the line, scholarships can be in jeopardy and the idea of failing a class that you paid $2,000 to take doesn’t exactly lend itself to a carefree environment.

So, how can Joe T. College Student reduce his stress to a reasonable level while avoiding an “F” on his geology exam? Let’s take a look.

WebMD.com gives some great suggestions.

Exercise is a great way to ease the nerves during a tough week. You could lift weights at the University Recreation Center, go on a scenic run, or, be one of those weird people that does tai chi in the middle of a park and scares small children.

If all other methods of exercise fail, you could always join a fight club. Mine is currently accepting members. Dues are $30 to join plus a bag of Fritos every other week.

Writing about your problems is also a good way to reduce stress. The things that are currently bothering me are the price of gas, that Wendy’s retired the Monterrey Ranch Chicken Sandwich from its menu and the fact that the Chicago White Sox wear black hosiery.

Not surprisingly, letting out your emotions is an effective way to release the 8,000 pound gorilla on your back. There’s no use in bottling up stress deep down inside. It just leads to terrible things such as anger and heavy metal music. Talk to a friend, watch your favorite comedy, or have a good old-fashioned cry. For best results, cry in the shower while playing something by Counting Crows. It captures the moment perfectly, uh, not like I’ve ever tried it…

Engaging in your favorite hobby is a welcome release from the perils of cramming. Why not work on your stamp collection, cook a gourmet meal or knit a sweater? Hey, even if you’re into somewhat obscure hobbies, such as making life-size statues of the cast of “Charles in Charge” with mayonnaise, go for the gold. Albertson’s has enough Miracle Whip to go around.

Last but not least, relaxation of the body can help melt away the pressure of finals. Breathing exercises, yoga, aromatherapy and massages are very popular. Take a break and enjoy the sounds of TCU. Let the soothing medley of construction, passing trains and that one obnoxious woman who takes it as a personal challenge to be as loud as she can whenever she passes by the study room calm you down. On second thought, soothing music will do the trick.

So, as the stress of finals begins to creep up, make sure to take some time to maintain sanity. Live in peace and harmony in cohesion with the 8-hour cramfest for that history exam. Be calm, be focused, be successful.

David Hall is a freshman news-editorial journalism major from Kingwood. His column appears Wednesdays.