It's that time in the semester where one minute, you're fine and life is sailing smoothly, and the next minute, you have five papers and four exams all due in the next week. I'm not sure how this always happens, but it inevitably does, and let me tell ya, it's a hard time. Stress levels are at a high, you can't stop stress eating, and your sleep schedule starts to get slowly more and more off track. In the midst of these mid-semester blues, sometimes it feels totally overwhelming and like you'll never make it through. We've all been there, and I'm here today to give you a few tips to avoid losing yourself in the madness.

1. Make an endless number of lists

Nothing helps me more than writing down everything I need to get done and feeling accomplished as I knock each thing off the list.

2. Break out the planner you forgot about

If you're anything like me, I know you've probably forgotten about that handy-dandy bound stack of paper that you bought two months ago because you thought it'd help. Whether you've been actually keeping up with it or not, go dig around for your planner (a calendar app works too) and schedule out those due dates. This is so you can keep tabs on everything and not be sidelined by an assignment you forgot about in the midst of everything else.

3. Plan out your time down to every minute

I can't stress enough how important this is. With deadlines creeping up on you, it's important that you use every bit of time wisely and to leave room for you to breathe, too.

4. Treat yourself, because you deserve it

Time is of the essence, sure, but it's hard to be productive if you're spending hours working non-stop. Take breaks - grab a snack, scroll through Twitter (but don't get sucked in), go grab coffee with a friend. It may seem like you're wasting time, but your sanity is equally as important to getting things done as locking yourself in your room for extended lengths of time is.

5. Read and reread rubrics

If you're rushing through an assignment because the deadline is approaching, it can be easy to skim through guidelines and dive right in. It's also easy to miss something important and fail, so, pay attention to the rubric and it's more likely that your assignment will go more smoothly.

6. Divvy up your work

Turn that eight-page essay into a page a day, and suddenly it isn't so scary anymore. This also helps with putting in your best work into multiple assignments without overexerting yourself.

7. Put away your phone

I am one of those people who might as well as have my phone sewn to my hand because I'm on it so much. When I have a lot to do and am overwhelmed, I tend to mindlessly scroll through social media and avoid doing work, and I know I'm not alone with this. Leave your phone in another room or put it out of your immediate reach, and watch how more focused you can become.

8. Find a space where you can focus

If you have roommates, it can be quite a distraction to want to talk to them when you're trying to be productive or, like in my situation, the walls are so thin you can hear their every movement. Finding a space with little distractions can be beneficial to be a productive human being.

9. Stop stress eating

This one speaks for itself.

10. Put on some tunes

Sometimes, you just need some bops to break up the monotony of doing homework that's due in 2 hours.

11. Avoid neglecting other responsibilities

Laundry, dishes, whatever it may be, don't let it go by the wayside just because you have a lot on your plate. Sometimes, it can be even more stressful to live in a pigsty than to simply take the time to clean up.

12. Drink water like it's your job

You should be doing this anyway, but being hydrated helps to prevent stress-induced headaches and feeling better overall. Hydrate or diedrate.

13. Ask for help if you need it

Email your professor, your TA, your friends - if you need help or are confused, just save yourself even more stress and ask. You won't regret the clarification, and it's not likely that whoever you ask will care.

14. Remind yourself that it's going to be okay

Being overwhelmed with work and life sucks, but you're going to make it through to the other side and all will be well again.