A dreaded time, the most stressful experience yet, junior year. You probably heard about the struggles from friends, family and neighbors, but you never quite understood them until you yourself were thrown in to survive. It’s difficult to pinpoint what exactly makes the year so tough because pressures from various aspects of your high school life combine into one force that tears you down over the course of the year. So what’s the secret? How do you survive your junior year of high school?

1. Try and get as much sleep as possible

You have 101 things to do with one night to do them, but sleep should still remain a priority. An occasional late night during a busy week won’t kill you, but continuously depriving yourself can lead to more stress, significantly less efficiency while studying and participating in class and poor performance on assessments. Routinely losing sleep can also make you more emotional, irritable and depressed which causes the situation to spiral out of control, so make sure you get at least an average of seven hours per night!

2. Stay organized

Write things down so you don’t forget them, especially important deadlines! Plan your schedule so you make sure you still have time to sleep and have fun, and make sure your extracurriculars don’t intrude too much into your studying time. Not keeping things in order is a huge obstacle while trying to survive junior year, but with the right tools, you can make sure this won’t be a problem!

3. Accept that you tried your best

If you put in your best effort, studied hard and didn’t procrastinate, accept and be proud of the grades you get. Even if you took a major hit a few times, use it as a guide for future improvements. It’s a tough year and a tough load, and your best is more than enough.

4. Stop comparing yourself to your peers

The number one way to tear yourself down is to wonder why you can’t be as good as the people that surround you in all your classes. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, and whether you realize it or not, others are envious of your strengths. Although it may not seem like it now, your incredible character and values determine your future more than numbers on paper.

5. Make some time to have fun

It seems silly, but time with friends, family and even alone should be a key part of your jam-packed schedule. Times like these are when you vent, relax and try to take your mind off everything you have going on in life. The balance between avoiding priorities and keeping your sanity is tough, but getting dinner with a friend one Saturday night is just as important as studying for that upcoming test.