If you’re like me, than the thought of midterms, finals, and due dates coinciding on one day makes you want to curl up in a ball and cry. I’m the kind of person that, instead of working on things in an organized manner, gets overwhelmed, puts them all off, and then finishes them at 3 in the morning while chugging coffee and sobbing.

It’s not a good time. Luckily, I’ve gotten better at organizing my thoughts and assignments, and now I only have these procrastination spirals every once in awhile instead of every week. Here’s how I do it. (Note: when I was writing this I spent a good 40 minutes redesigning my tumblr theme instead of actually working on it.)

1. Use a planner.

I know, I know. You’ve heard this from everyone. But it really does help--at least, it helps me. I find that making lists of everything I have to do calms me instead of feeling overwhelmed. Something about seeing my tasks as events I can tick off rather than an incorporeal mass of stress makes it easier to get things done. Even if your planner is only a daily to-do list instead of a physical planner with everything in one place, it makes it easier to keep track of the things you need to do.

2. Break up your tasks.

This one is pretty simple, and goes hand in hand with using a planner. Don’t just write down one giant project--break it up into smaller points. If you’ve got a paper to write, break it up into doing research, writing your intro, the body, and the conclusion, and then editing and proofreading. Whenever you finish one of those things, you can check it off your list--and it really makes it feel like you’re making progress instead of wading through an insurmountable task.

3. Work in blocks of time.

For this kind of technique you’ll hear a lot of numbers thrown about. 45 minutes, 90 minutes, whatever. At the end of the day, the number isn’t what matters, as long as it works for you. So sit down, figure out how long you can actively work on something before you mind starts to wander, and then stick to it. Even if it’s only five minutes--make it a productive five minutes. Write down what you want to accomplish on a sticky note, and then sit down and work for your block of time. If you finish that task--great! Reward yourself by taking a short break, going and getting a drink or a snack, or getting up and going for a short walk outside. If you didn’t finish your task--that’s okay too! You still sat down and worked on it, and that’s helping you break the procrastination cycle.

4. Set yourself up in a comfortable area--but make sure you’re away from distractions.

This is entirely up to you. Do you work best away from people? Seclude yourself in a corner of the library. Do you find it easier to get things done when you can bounce ideas off of other people? Enlist one or two of your friends to help you while you study. The most important thing is that you feel like you’re in a productive environment. If this means that you need to take twenty minutes to tidy your room so you can work, then do it. A little effort in finding the right mindset will go a long way towards getting things done.

5. Take care of yourself.

It can be tempting to just try and power through everything that you have to get one--believe me, I’ve done it. And while this ensure that I got everything in on time for all of my deadlines, my work quality declined, and I was stressed and anxious the entire time. At the end of the day, it’s better for things to take longer and be better quality than to have them be rushed and unfinished. And don’t forget--your mental health comes first. Don’t spend six hours straight studying when it’s stressing you out, even if you do have a midterm tomorrow. Your brain isn’t going to retain any of the information if it’s too busy being anxious. It’s okay to allow yourself to take breaks.

6. Ask for help

The final, most important tip I can give you is to be unafraid to ask for help. Go to your professor’s office hours, and email them if you have questions. Ask people in your class; ask your friends; ask the internet. Just don’t go it alone.