I stress out easily. Yes, I admit it. I am also one of those students who needs to get a minimum of a B in every class. It's just who I am. Now as any person who has gone to college knows, it can be crazy stressful, especially when you throw clubs, sports and jobs in the mix. With mid-terms coming up, papers are due and exams need to be studied for, and it can be really easy to feel like you're losing your grasp on everything. I feel you, I've been there. So to help make this semester, and future semesters, a little less crazy, I've compiled some of my study and time management tips to help you along the way.

1. Breathe.

Seriously. Chill out. I know you may be panicking and/or crying right now, but that just won't help. Trust me, it just makes you all snotty. When I start thinking there is no way that I'm going to get anything done and I might as well just drop out of college and become a hobo that wanders the streets of Minneapolis, I pull out my planner and all my syllabus. I go through every syllabus and highlight big essays or exams that are coming up. I then write everything down in my planner, on both the month and week section. This is very important. I know it's tedious but it will help in the long run. Since you have all your important due dates on your month, you can now plan accordingly and know what to expect a few weeks in advance. No surprises. And because you wrote the next week or two's schedule day-by-day, you can now know what to expect every week.

2. Take it day-by-day.

If you start thinking about the entire semester and what you have to do, it can get pretty daunting, not gonna lie. So to eliminate some of that stress, I take it day-by-day. I still look at the month section of my planner, but I really focus on the readings and homework that I have to do in the upcoming days. It's just less overwhelming that way. I also set little goals for big essays so I'm not staying up until 3 a.m. in the morning the day before it's due, frantically trying to figure out another synonym for "also." So maybe the week or so before a big research paper is due I begin doing research for the basic outline, that way I just need to write the paper which is the easiest part. If it's an essay for an English course or something that requires little to no research, I just write about a paragraph or two everyday. That way, even if I do only write two paragraphs a day, I'll still have finished it in time and have thoroughly edited it (professors really don't like silly grammar mistakes in a final paper).

4. Find a good study schedule and stick to it.

Now, I can't give you an outline for your study schedule because your schedule is different than mine. So you need to plan around sports, your job, organization/club meetings, classes, exercise and meals. Wow, you're busy. I also commute everyday, so depending on how long that takes for you, it is really important to take into account. One thing I can tell you for sure though, is to always, I repeat, always give yourself more time than you think you need. Think studying for that psychology exam will only take you two hours? Give yourself four. It is always better to have extra free time than not having enough time to study. Also, please don't forget to eat your meals and drink plenty of water. I know it can be easy to brush them aside, but seriously, there is no point in studying if you aren't fueling your body. I always have some Cliff Bars or raw almonds in my backpack to eat while studying. I also recommend investing in a water bottle that you totally dig, because it can be more fun to drink out of.

5. Clippy clips and post it notes are your friends.

Fine, if you want to call them paper clips, whatever. They are still really useful. I love having tabs and post it notes in my textbooks and other books I read for school. That way I can easily find what I'm looking for when I need it again. Paper clips also keep your stuff - note cards, handouts, copies for peer reviews, etc. - nice and neat. If you want to go the extra mile, buy a paper folder for each of your classes. I keep my notebook, syllabus, and any handouts or graded papers in it. That way if I need anything for, say, Spanish, I can just grab my folder and I have it all together in one spot. Another note I'd like to mention that will just make your life easier: keep the handouts and packets your professor gives you. They don't just hand them out for fun. They are actually helpful. I cannot tell you how many times a classmate has claimed that they were graded unfairly, didn't know about an assignment or were completely lost on the material, even though a rubric or an assignment description was handed out a week before. Don't just stuff it in your backpack when you get it, keep your things together and you'll do fine.

6. Finally, visit your professor's office hours.

I know your parents or one uncle told you this at your graduation party, but it is actually really helpful. Professors love it when you just pop in with a question. It can really be about anything, an assignment, something you learned in class, anything. I have built pretty good relationships with my professors by stopping in for just five minutes every now and then. That way they can also easily recognize me, especially in a large class, and that can be really helpful. Plus, they really like knowing that you care. You may really like the class, and care a whole lot about your grade, but if you don't actively show your professor, they might not know. If you ask questions and show interest, they will be more likely to really help you, especially if you're struggling. Remember, they are professors for a reason; they really want to help you learn. Also good to note: take extra credit anywhere you can. Even if you are doing well in class, it is always better to have those couple extra points to fall back on rather than struggling to get some extra points at the end of the semester.

I really hope this helps at least calm your fears, but remember, you need to find your own balance, some of these tips might be perfect for you and some might not. Just be patient with yourself, and I promise you'll get the hang of it. Have a great semester!