It’s the first week of classes, and the spring semester can be a drag. It can be difficult to start off the semester strong, but we have some tips for you to make things a little easier.

1. Planner: I know not everyone is a planner person, and that’s okay. I personally use planners every single day because I am otherwise incapable of keeping track of my work. If you’re the same, take the time to find a planner that suits your needs. I found a really fun one at Target, where every month you track your monthly goals, weekly self-care plans, and so much more. There is also a ton of space, which I need with my crazy schedule. Having something that allows you to keep track of everything in one place can be a great way to stay on top of everything, not just classwork.

2. Allow yourself breaks: Although this is reminiscent of my finals tips, it’s just that important. The most important part of preventing burnout is to make sure you’re not overworking yourself. I know sometimes it’s hard to allow yourself to take a break, especially if you feel anxious if you’re not working on something. If you need to take baby steps, that’s totally okay. Even if you just take a few minutes to make a snack or some coffee, or if you take a break to watch a movie or get lunch with a friend, do something for yourself that’s not school-related to allow your mind and body to relax.

3. Plan a weekly hangout with a friend: It’s hard to be social during a pandemic, especially in the winter. Try to plan something with a close friend or roommate to safely get together (as long as you’re both feeling well), whether it’s getting coffee or watching a TV show together, it will give you something to look forward to, and it goes with the last point of doing something for yourself.

4. Make a designated playlist to do work to: Listening to something while I work always helps me out. I make about seven of these playlists per semester because my mood changes, but having a playlist of music or podcasts will help take some of the intensity of studying and doing homework off. I personally like light, folky music while I work because it relaxes me.

5. Work in a way that’s convenient for you: Sometimes it can be difficult to understand how you need to do your work. Don’t pressure yourself to get all of your work done as soon as it’s assigned, or follow patterns that don’t suit your learning style. Figure out how you operate best, and go from there.

Take this semester and make it the best you can. Take care of yourself and do what you can to get through it, and before you know it, spring and summer break (and for some, graduation) will be here before you know it.