There are two different stages of studying for finals, and Diversions is here to give you music sure to get you through all of them.

The Pump Up Stage

Whether you’re psyching yourself up for the stress of studying or on your way to your exams, there’s always a need for songs to energize and prepare you for the upcoming ordeal.

Miguel — “Waves” (Tame Impala Remix)

This upbeat psychedelic rock jam is sure to get you smiling during these stressful times. The beachy vibes and resonating vocals will lull you into a false sense of security — that summer actually is coming and you don’t have four exams and a paper between you and that sandy paradise. As far as remixes go, this is one of the best, capturing the essence of the original song while giving it a whole new sound.

DJ Khaled — “I’m the One” (feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne)

“I’m the One” has a way of making you feel like the only person in the room. And during a stressful period like finals, don’t we all want to believe that Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance and Lil Wayne are singing to us? The giddiness of hearing Chance sing could make anyone believe in true love, and it can even make you believe that you’ll pass your finals.

Survivor — “Eye of the Tiger”

It may be a cliché, but you can’t go wrong with a classic on your finals playlist. This song has been inspiring people to do their best work since 1982, so there must be something about it that works. If the song itself doesn’t inspire you, just picture Sylvester Stallone training to this song in Rocky III. And if that doesn’t inspire you, I don’t know what will.

Kendrick Lamar — “DNA.”

I would probably put every song on DAMN. on this playlist if I could, but I’m limiting myself to “DNA.” On “DNA.” Kendrick raps about the different elements of his identity, but all you’ll be thinking about are the different things that are going to help you ace your next exam. This song is about as upbeat as it gets, so it’s sure to give you the jumpstart you need to start studying.

The “I Swear I’m Actually Going to Study” Stage

Now, if you’re like me, you’d probably just continue to listen to songs that resemble the ones in the previous section. But if not, here are some songs that may be more suitable for your studying habits.

The Paper Kites — “Bloom”

As the guitar riff of “Bloom” drops in, you can immediately feel yourself start to focus on the melody. Its almost hypnotic nature makes this the perfect study song for your late nights in the library. And if that’s not enough, vocalists Sam Bentley, Christina Lacy and David Powys deliver a performance worthy of a lullaby.

James Blake ­— “I Need a Forest Fire” (feat. Bon Iver)

This song, one of my personal favorites from the “ELEMENT.” producer is a little more unconventional. Lacking vocals for the first 50 seconds, “I Need a Forest Fire” makes it easy to get lost in your study material without realizing it. There is also a beeping, almost morse code-like sound playing in one layer of the song, which acts as another relaxing element to help you not think about the ‘F’ you’re going to get next week.

Khalid — “Hopeless”

“Hopeless” isn’t just the word you use to describe your hopes of passing your exams — it’s also the name of the next song that’s going to help you study. This time it’s a crisp drum beat coupled with Khalid’s captivating vocals that make this something to help you focus.