It’s the year 1930 on the last night before finals. As you walk back home sleep deprived and calculating what you’ll need to pass the course, an eerie song drifts out from the carillon within the Campanile. “The Hanging of Danny Deever” echoes across campus, a perfect background track to so many students’ breakdowns. Right then and there, the semester ending tradition was born, which is  still practiced today. It’s a common origin story — it’s got the drama and an effortlessly iconic feel that now marks the official arrival of RRR week. And flash forward to 2025 as finals loom over you, here are some ways to read, review, recite and most importantly, relax! 

Don’t stress, stretch! 

If you plan to study, the large majority of RRR week will be spent hunched over, pretending to be deep in thought at a slightly uncomfortable desk in Doe Library, Main Stacks or wherever your go-to study space is. Your lower back is on fire, your neck and shoulders are rigid and I bet your legs are numb from the lack of circulation. Bodily pain has definitely prevented me from performing my best in tests before, so here are some quick stretches that you can do that make all the difference. 

For your lower back, extend your leg onto a surface even to your hips. This should already start immediately stretching out your hamstrings that are causing the main source of pain. Fun fact! Tight hamstrings are one of the most common contributors to lower back pain. Doing this stretch for about 20 seconds on both sides should help immensely with that pain. 

Moving up to your neck and shoulders, it’s not that shocking that having “shrimp” posture strains these areas., But, did you know that mental stress could also contribute to this pain as well? Between hunching over your laptop and experiencing the existential dread of catching up on lectures you were too “sick” to attend, you need some serious help. First things first, sit up straight. Your shoulders should be back and relaxed, not curled forward. Engaging your core can also help support your spine, easing the tenseness. Lastly, you can prop your computer at eye level so you aren’t looking down and bring it closer to you so it’s easier to maintain posture. Trust me, your neck will thank you. 

Finally, your legs have fallen asleep because you’ve accidentally sat too long in a way that’s pinched a nerve or blood vessel. A fix for this is to simply get up, walk around and change your sitting position. Unravel your legs from that pretzel position you’ve been sitting in for three hours, and get that blood pumping all the way from toe to head. 

Llamapalooza! 

Every weekday, Paws for Mental Health sets up their destressing, petting stations on Sproul. The therapy dogs are great, but during finals week, UC Berkeley students get a pretty huge upgrade. By huge, I mean llamas start appearing on campus. Every finals week, the ASUC puts on Llamapalooza to help us take our minds off of finals! They come in many different colors and patterns, are all huge and you’re allowed to pet and snap photos with them. I had one chew on my hair last year so I would 100% recommend! 

Futuristic nap pods, massage chairs and campus funded sleeping

This paragraph’s subtitle speaks for itself; our campus does indeed offer nap pods and massage chairs in locations called REST Zones. Accessible to students at any time, these zones can be found in the Kresge Engineering Library, Hildebrand Hall, REC on the second floor and the Tangs Center second floor. Each REST Zone looks a little different, with varying lounges, chairs, massage chairs and nap pods. For the nap pods specifically, you have to reserve them to get access for one hour.. These look like strange circular white eggs that you can lay down in, and when activated, they close in on you, leaving you in total security and darkness.

If you’re claustrophobic, or if the thought of being enclosed in a white egg stuck in the dark terrifies you, maybe you should try out a massage chair instead! The one at Hildebrand hall is a top line massage chair that has several different modes, features and even the ability to customize a massage to your liking! I have fallen asleep in this very chair, and felt perfectly safe without the need for an egg enclosure as a nearby terracotta warrior statue was watching over me. 

Mix up your study routine

You might have already heard of the classics, such as the pomodoro and SQ3R study methods. Maybe these have worked well for you, maybe not. Either way, try experimenting with these different, perhaps unconventional techniques the next time you sit down with your textbook. 

Record yourself: Set up a recording device and timelapse yourself studying. This is especially effective for those who easily get distracted every time they sit down to work. Now, with the notion of being watched, you’re kind of obligated to stay on task.

Coffee nap: It sounds a little counterintuitive, but a coffee nap is essentially a short nap — no longer than 20 minutes — right after consuming coffee or any type of caffeinated beverage. Studies show that these naps help people maintain alertness and enhance their performance and productivity levels. This technique has made its rounds with night-shift workers trying to stay awake, so it might work for you if you’re someone who gets sleepy while studying!

Memory palace: Also called the method of loci, this memorization technique goes back to the ancient Greeks, and it capitalizes on our brains’ strong spatial memories. By mentally placing facts in different parts of a familiar space, like your house, you can later recall them by walking through them in your mind. There are a lot of resources online to help you practice, and once you get the hang of it, it can become a pretty powerful tool!

Gamify it: If you’re someone who craves reward and dopamine after a grueling task, try turning your next study session into a game! Reward yourself with a treat, like 15 minutes of the show you’re watching or a snack, every time you complete a part of an assignment. This only works if you have decent self control, though, so maybe keep yourself accountable by doing this with a friend or keeping the rewards outside the room. And if you want to combine methods, set up a camera and record yourself. Upon watching it, you can see if you spent the majority of the time studying, or munching. 

Take a day trip outside of Berkeley

Now that we have the time (and Baypass!), consider taking a trip far from campus to decompress! Especially since many of us non-Bay Area-ians are going back to our hometowns right after finals, this might be your last chance in a while to explore the beauty of the Bay. Here are a couple options for your getaway:

Golden Gate Park: Right at the heart of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Park has many scenic spots to explore. From Strawberry Canyon to the Dutch Windmill to Ocean Beach right next door, your camera roll will be more than satisfied.

Pacifica: If you’re at the point of the week where you need some time to reflect on all your regrets, Pacifica’s Rockaway Beach or Mori Point are perfect for a quiet walk or hike. Just let the sound of the waves distract you from that exam on Monday.

Alameda: Just a bus ride away, Alameda is a walkable town to get some shopping done and grab a coffee. It’s a great low-stress option for those who want a quick mental reset from Berkeley, but to not make a whole day of it.

RRR week is the perfect opportunity to not only study, but to wander, experiment and, most importantly, take care of yourself. Whatever you do this week to survive, just know that finals will soon be over, and you’ll make it through to the other side even stronger. My last piece of advice is to imagine yourself as that student in 1930, starting a long line of hardworking, world-changing Golden Bears. They’re part of the reason we’re number #1 now, and you’ll be a part of the movement that keeps us golden into the future. Good luck!