With the start of the semester just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what lies ahead of you for the next 15 weeks. You might have already made your New Year’s resolutions, but these are different. These are promises you should make to yourself right now for a better semester. Because you know it could always be better than it was last semester. And life is all about progress, right?

1. Go to class.

This might seem like a simple one, but it surprisingly isn’t. I know a lot of people who find themselves midway into the semester (or midway into every week), and they just can’t find the motivation to go to class. You might not need to go, the lecture might be online, it might be straight from the textbook—there are a lot of reasons not to go to class. But from my experience, I always do best in the classes I actually go to and pay attention in. This is like built-in learn the material/study time. Make use of it.

2. Ask for help.

This can sometimes be really hard for people. We all hate asking for help because we think that shows weakness. But honestly, no one understands everything all of the time. Office hours and study sessions are made for a reason. You’ll feel worse if you don’t ask for help and then again when what you didn’t know shows up on the test. Trust me.

3. Try to study a little bit in advance.

Another difficult one, but yet again very important. If you review your notes for, let’s say, 10–15 minutes at the end of every day, you will do better in the class. It’s not even intense studying, it's just remembering what you just learned and doing it continuously that makes it easier to stick when you actually have to cram.

4. Try something new every week.

It doesn’t have to be big. It could be trying a new tea flavor, it could be going to a new study spot, it could be talking to a new person, or it could changing your workout to the morning. It can literally be anything. But college can get very mundane if you do everything the same every day. Variety is the spice of life, remember that!

5. Stay away from drama.

This one is really a major key. Drama whether between friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, teachers, teammates, your parents, whoever is just toxic. Although it’s easier said than done, if you see or feel drama headed your way, just take a step back and decide if it’s really worth it for you to engage in it. Pick your battles wisely or your semester could become a war zone pretty fast.

6. Call your parents/siblings.

Sure, maybe you call them now. But you probably don’t call enough, trust me. And calling, hearing the other person’s voice on the phone is a lot different than texting. So when you get a spare moment walking back to your dorm, dial your parents or your siblings because you know you miss them even if you hate to admit it.

7. Do some sort of exercise at least once a week.

Exercise is important. Moving your body more than going from your library desk to the coffee line can really do loads for your mental and physical well-being. Not only will you feel like you can now justify all the food you jam on your plate in the dining hall, but exercise gives you the time and space to separate yourself from all your worries and thoughts and just focus on doing something productive and something that is solely for you.

8. Breathe.

As the semester goes on, people get stressed. You’ll be stressed, your best friend will be stressed, and some days it will just seem like everything is hitting the fan. And on these days, you might want to lash out. But try your best not to. Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about, and I’ve learned from my own lash outs that flipping out on someone because they did something that annoyed you in the slightest doesn’t solve any problems—it just makes more.

9. Meet someone new.

Most likely you don’t know everyone you go to school with. Let’s be real, you probably don’t even know everyone in your chem class. So this semester, make a point to meet someone new. Go talk to that person in your chem class or that girl who has the really cool laptop stickers. A big part of going to college is meeting new people, so take advantage of this opportunity. You’ll never be surrounded by so many people your same age group again.

10. Remember that college is about your education, but education isn’t only in textbooks.

It’s important to do your schoolwork and to make sure you stay on top of your career goals. But it’s also important to make sure that you get everything you can out of your college experience. So go to those parties, stay out too late, eat breakfast at midnight, and do some stupid (but not too stupid) things. The best lessons in life come from doing things we shouldn’t do or never thought we would.

11. Smile.

Smile more, worry less. It’s amazing what a smile can do, both for yourself and the person who sees it. Too many times we get caught up in our own busy lives and forget to smile at the little things or our friends. Trust me when I say a smile goes a long way.