The academic year has started for most college students, and that means we’re all in a weird transitional period. Classes have started but if you’re anything like me, you still don’t feel set in your schedule, which leads to a lot of unnecessary stress. I go through this at the start of every semester, but I think I’ve come up with three solutions.

1) Keep your Schedule Handy

The first thing is to pinpoint exactly what is causing the stress. Are you worried about missing a class because you don’t have your schedule memorized? If that’s the case, set your phone’s wallpaper to a picture of your schedule, and take a peak every time you feel a little lost. This sounds like a small thing, but it always helps me commit my schedule to memory, and I feel more confident about what I’m doing.

2) Buy a Whiteboard

With as many classes and obligations we have, it can be easy to forget what we’re supposed to be doing outside of class. This is where a whiteboard comes in handy. I try to prioritize my assignments in a list, and erase them as they’re completed. For example; the response paper that’s due tomorrow is at the top, and the four page reading assignment for next Wednesday would be at the bottom. This reduces stress quickly for me, and erasing an assignment always feels great.

3) Make a Contact in Every Class

Sometimes we wander into a classroom and realize we don’t know a single person there. The key is to get to know at least one person as quickly as you can. There is absolutely no down side to doing this. For one, you (hopefully) make a new friend; but you also have a partner for this class. If you feel like it’s too awkward to ask for someone’s number right away, just add them on Facebook or Twitter. That way, if you need help with an assignment or notes from a class you’ve missed, they’re only an instant message away. It always helps to just know that you have someone to reach out to if you’re in dire need. Not to mention having friends in your class just makes everything more enjoyable.