The jingle of Christmas bells and the flurry of winter snowflakes bring back childhood memories of a simpler time when one’s only worries were whether there were enough marshmallows in the hot cocoa. However, the enormous pile of textbooks sitting on student desks across campus this week highlights the reality of the cold, cruel world of final exams.

While relaxing next to a computer’s digital fireplace may sound more appealing than studying for those dreaded final exams, the daunting task can be made easier by following a few words of advice.

Creating a to-do list and prioritizing one’s commitments before even starting to study for finals can help maintain focus.

“For organizing time, I generally make a master list of every task that needs to be completed before the actual final, like what needs to be studied, what I’m weak on … what needs to be addressed,” said Cassandra Wesseln, senior in LAS and Library Assistant at the Applied Health Sciences Library.

Once everything is written down, one should create blocks of study time dedicated to each task as well as including breaks.

“I block out time for studying, like it’s an appointment,” Wesseln said. “I go to library and I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m not going to anything else. This is my time to study English,’ and then I stick to it. Usually that’s a great way to manage things.”

JoAnn Jacoby, interim head of reference, research and scholarly services, also emphasized taking breaks during blocks of study time.

“Between the Main Library and the Undergraduate Library is Espresso Royale, where you can go get a coffee or a pastry, talk to somebody or get out and walk around,” Jacoby said.

Finding the right environment and time is crucial when studying for finals.

Chris Olen, junior in LAS and library assistant at the Education and Social Science Library, recommended studying at the Main Library or the Union. Wesseln also enjoys studying at the Main Library because of its quiet yet welcoming atmosphere.

For the best time, Olen suggests getting up early, and studying during daytime hours. Jacoby recommended taking advantage of the libraries’ extended hours during finals week. Until Dec. 16th, the Undergraduate Library and Grainger Engineering Library will be open 24/7.

Another important tip to follow is to form a realistic, manageable plan.

“Don’t be overambitious, so that you feel bad when you don’t get enough done,” Wesseln said. “Make a good plan, something that you can say, ‘I actually can do this,’ and just stick to it.”

To make a manageable plan, Jacoby said to break down the assignment into small pieces, so one can plan it out and set targets.

There also many easily accessible resources students can utilize during finals, such as the Ask-a-Librarian service, which can save a large amount of time and effort.

“You can use the phone, email and IM with the Ask-a-Librarian service. Sometimes it can really help save time, particularly if you have a research question and you’re trying to track a resource for doing your work,” Jacoby said.

The library also provides Lib Guides, which are subject guides created by librarians in different subject areas that help students with their research assignments.

“Lib Guides help you quickly find key, relevant sources so you can spend your time studying rather than searching for background materials,” Jacoby said.

The last but arguably the most important tip is to avoid distractions and procrastination, and postpone all unnecessary activities until done with studying. Jacoby advised to go to a quiet environment that removes distractions, such as using one’s Facebook or cellphone.

When motivation is running low, remember that a month-long celebration of holiday cheer is only a few days of dedicated studying away. By following these tips, the successful student may well be one step closer to lazily sipping that memorable hot cocoa next to a real, crackling fireplace.