This post is all about the ultimate finals survival kit!

Ugh! It’s that time of the semester again! The library is packed to the brim. Everybody’s tired, sleep-deprived, and basically a walking zombie. Yup, it’s finals season. If you’re lucky, then you might just have one to two easy finals that you don’t even have to study for. But for those who are taking 18+ units of extremely demanding classes, I am so sorry.
No matter what you’re going through during this time of the school year, a finals survival kit will be a total lifesaver! I’ve personally been through my fair share of finals season mental breakdowns that I don’t really want to talk about right now. Lol! But I just want you to know that I completely understand your struggle. Hang in there, this too shall pass!
And so today, I’m here to share with you some awesome ideas to help you create your own little care package to get you through these hard times. You can gift this care package to yourself as a reward for all your hard work. Or, you can send this to a dear friend of yours that seems to be struggling. They will really appreciate it!
What Should Be Included In A Finals Survival Kit?
Good question, you can literally put anything you like in there. But, most of the time, a finals care package will include these essential items:
- Pencil, pens, highlighter
- Chips
- Sweets (Chocolate, Granola Bars…)
- Personalized Letter
- Gift Cards
- Self-care items (Lip Balm…)
- Scantrons, Exam booklets
- Study Tips
These are just some examples are what things are usually included in a finals care package. Of course, you can omit or add items to it however you find works best. Be creative with it!
Study Care Package: Food

Every student on this planet Earth appreciates free food. Especially during finals season where we literally don’t even have time to take a nap, let alone make our own food. This is also a time that Starbucks gift cards will really come in handy, because coffee is our life support.
Here are some food & snack ideas to add to your care package:
- Granola Bars
- Hershey’s Kisses
- Hot Chocolate Mix
- Protein Bars
- Gum
- Candy
- Cookies
- Starbucks Gift card
- Crackers
Btw, Amazon also sells college student care packages where a variety of snacks are included in one big box, so that you won’t have to spend time shopping for them yourself.
Study Survival Kit: Office Supplies
Basic office supplies are must-haves in college. You definitely don’t want to be the person asking for a pencil 10 minutes before the final exam starts. By just including simple essentials such as an eraser or a pencil sharpener, you can make your friends’ or your own life much easier!
Here are some ideas of office supplies to include in your care package:
- Pen/pencils
- Erasers
- Highlighters
- Rulers
- Scantron/Exam Booklet
- Index Cards
- Notebooks
- Stapler
- Pencil Sharpener
Here’s an adorable notebook journal that will be a great addition to your finals care package. It’s doesn’t take up too much space and should fit perfectly in your survival kit!
Care Package Ideas: Self-Care Products

Finals season is tough enough already, so you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself by neglecting your wellbeing. Sometimes, by relaxing and truly giving ourselves a much-deserved break, we can come back stronger and focus even better on our studies.
When was the last time you treated yourself? Use this Exam Survival Kit as an excuse to finally take care of yourself. And if this care package is for your friend, then tell them, “Hey! You’re amazing, and you deserve some nice pampering today!”
Here are some self-care ideas to include in your finals survival kit:
- Inspirational Quotes
- Face Mask (These Korean face masks are amazing!)
- Lip Balm
- Hand Lotion
- Eye Mask (for the dark circles caused by lack of sleep…sigh)
- Bath bomb
- Essential Oils (To help wake you up during those long study nights)
- Hair Mask
- Nail Polish
Exam Survival Kit For Boyfriend
For all my girls who want to show their boyfriends some love and support during finals season, I got you covered! This is the perfect time to showcase how much you care for him, and that you’re thinking of him! If you have some extra time on your hands, you can even consider writing a personalized love poem/motivational letter dedicated to him.
Here is what your boyfriend care package could look include:
- Handwritten love letter (for motivation lol)
- Printed photos of you two!
- A list of reasons why you love him (These capsule letters are super cute!)
- His favorite snack & candies
- Grooming Essentials (Razor, shaving cream…)
- Funny socks
- A study playlist on Spotify for him
- A Gift Card to his favorite restaurant or shop
And these are just a short list of ideas that could get your creative juices flowing. Think about what he loves or what he needs, and add a personalized touch to it! Ultimately, all he cares about is the fact that you made an effort to express your love for him during the time he needs it most.
How To DIY Finals Survival Kit?
Depending on who your recipient, you can decorate your finals care package according to their interests. Add a personalized letter in there with some cute stickers and drawings. And in terms of decorating the actual kit/box/bag, you can either purchase one from Target or Amazon, or just create one yourself (I assume this will be much more work lol)
Here are some DIY care package idea for inspiration:
Good Luck On Your Finals!
I hope this post has inspired you to create your own finals survival kit whether it’s for yourself, your boyfriend, girlfriend, or best friends. Finals are tough, but it also means that you’ve made it to the end of the semester without giving up! So that’s amazing, and you should give yourself a big pat on the back for that.
Finally, good luck! Make sure to get enough rest the day before your finals. Sleep deprivation can have a huge negative impact on your performance (here’s an article on that), and you definitely don’t want to be dozing off during the most important exam of your semester!
Anyways, I’m rambling on. Lol! Study hard, but don’t forget to take care of yourself!
xoxo