Technically, I am on the quarter system.
The week before finals is what I affectionately refer to as Hell Week. The English professors at my school typically put in a call for papers during the last week of class so that they may grade and redistribute them on the scheduled day for the final exam. Most quarters, I was enrolled in several English Literature courses at the same time and would have, as a result, several essays due rapid-fire. This time around, I only had four single-page essays to worry about for English Renaissance. I was up pretty late writing them, but they are finished.
I have two final exams left (an in-class final for Structure of Language that I could pass without studying and a take-home final for World Literature that should not be too difficult.) Unless something terrible happens, I can breathe easy for these last few days.
What do I usually do to get through the train wreck that is Hell Week? Anything but my actual work. Even this quarter, I downloaded a season of a television show and kept a window of the episodes playing while typing my papers (there was far more watching than writing getting done yesterday this morning.) I’ll also play music, read books, and instant message / text whiny updates to my friends.
Another thing that helps, in a small way, is talking to myself. I may look like a nutcase while doing it, but it helps me to organize my thoughts.