It’s the end of the second week of classes and the feelings of stress, anxiety and the fear of missing an assignment have returned, but there is no reason to panic. There are a few strategies and techniques you can utilize to limit the worries of returning to class.

Organization and doing simple things like sleeping regularly are key things to keep in mind as we move through the strategies and techniques. Most of these will also provide ways to not fall behind, because all that will do is lead you to play catch up.

First off, I recommend you have a planner, calendar or both. With today’s technology, most smartphones have a built-in calendar application that you can add events and assignments to at any time.  If you are more of a hands-on person, however, buy a large desk calendar or a planner which you can easily access during the day to jot down what you need to do. Staying organized is essential to keeping track of all the tasks and activities you may need to complete in one day.

Speaking of organization, the ability to keep track of assignments might allow you to stay ahead of schedule. Working ahead could lead to more free time closer to the due date for your assignment or task.  Additionally, it can remove the last-minute stress people typically face when they get closer to a deadline or due date.

Another aspect of the academic year that is crucial for college students to keep in mind is getting enough sleep. For college students, most studies say you should obtain six to eight hours of sleep. So, if you have an 8 a.m. class you’ll want to try and get to sleep by midnight. This is hard for some students, however, as sometime after 10 p.m. could be the only time you have to socialize with friends because of the workload during the day.

This correlates well with the idea that you need to have time for yourself. Whether it’s a little bit of time each night throughout the week, or an entire day on the weekend, be sure to put the books down and watch some TV, hang out with some friends or even go home for the weekend [if you live close enough]. Stepping away from the daily workload and stresses of college will allow you to hit the reset button and feel refreshed before returning to the tasks you have to complete.

The overlying theme to keep in mind no matter how you are feeling after two weeks in the semester is that it’s possible to get everything finished that you need to. It might take some planning, organizing or even some hard work, but you will stay on task because you’re in college and want to be here to pursue your dream career.

For now though, just try to find that balance between academics, co-curriculars and having a social life. It’s not an easy balance to find, but once you do, you’ll be overjoyed with the lifestyle you have.