You ended the Fall semester with awesome grades and thoughts of a well-deserved break. But, then January comes around and suddenly it’s a tornado of new classes and new homework. One of the toughest things about returning from Christmas break is getting back into the rhythm of school. You’ve had a few weeks of free time and suddenly you’re back in the midst of deadlines and assigned reading. It can be difficult to slip back into student mode, causing stress during the first few weeks of a new semester. In order to maximize your time and avoid the shock of be bombarded with assignments, here are some tips to help you get your groove back.

• Get a planner

A planner will be your best friend. Write your new schedule down somewhere inside to avoid getting confused or running late and make sure you mark important dates, such as projects and school breaks. Copying assignment dates from the syllabus a few weeks in advance is also a good way to prevent assignments from sneaking up on you.

• Stick to a schedule

Mapping out your day is a great way to hold yourself accountable and stay on task. Scheduling a time for homework, exercise, or fun with friends makes sure that you avoid that moment of panic when you realize you’ve been at the mall for three hours and your essay is due in thirty minutes. Make sure you pencil in plenty of time for those tough assignments.

• Stay ahead

Open due dates are a blessing and a curse. Most of the time, students tend to put off the assignment to the last possible moment, thinking they have so much time to complete it. By staying on top of your work and planning ahead, your semester will come to an end far more peacefully and with significantly less stress. Don’t let yourself get buried under assignments you should’ve started a week ago.

• Find a balance

College is meant to be fun. So find a balance between work and play that works for you. Just be sure to be responsible and actually do some work before you play. This will keep stress levels down and prevent the mental burnouts that happen when you stare at a computer screen for hours on end. So be sure to take 5-10 minute breaks and scroll through social media, walk around, get a snack, doodle, whatever gives your brain a breather.