With spring break coming to an end, the last half of the semester has officially begun. This half tends to bring with it plenty of stress with little time for rest or relaxation. Though the stress seems unending during this period of time, a few methods of cutting some of it back exist for the students who care to try. All it takes is being a bit more conscientious of your time and studies.

Stay organized and aware of due dates. The worst possible mistake for a student to make during the home stretch of the semester is not knowing every single test date and due date for various projects and papers. One of the keys to success is simply knowing when to start studying or working on a project. Only you know when you need to begin work on a project. Whether you prefer procrastination or would rather get a jump on the work a few weeks ahead of time, knowing when the work is due is absolutely essential.

Try to get plenty of sleep. Sleep is not a constant companion to most college students, unfortunately. The dead of night seems to afford the only studying time for some. However, try to catch as much sleep as you can during this hectic time. Sleep is the only chance your body has for restoring itself to working order, and denying it that healing time will only cause your stress levels to skyrocket even more. Sleep will improve your end-of-semester performance in the long run.

Set time aside each day for "going dark." By this phrase, I mean set aside time every day for turning off your phone, social media, and every other distraction that 21st century technology offers. These things all contribute to pulling your attention away from your studies. A couple of hours -- or even a single hour -- each day without these distractions will allow you to see a noticeable difference in the amount of work that you get done.

Soak in some fresh air. Not every single moment of your day should be spent toiling away, nor is it practical to do so. Make sure to get outside and breathe in that early spring air. The sunshine and exercise will do you some good and help reduce those stress levels. Take some time to enjoy nature and relax a bit. Exercise is proven to help energize you and give you even more brainpower.

Organization, sleep, focus, and exercise are all huge necessities if you plan on surviving the remaining eight weeks of the semester. College, along with all the other responsibilities you have, causes plenty of stress. However, managing this stress is much easier than you might initially think. You just have to know what you're doing, how you're doing it, and why it matters. Then, you have to act on this knowledge. Never let yourself be without direction or a sense of purpose. Follow these tips, and you should see the semester passing by with less stress and more success.