Going back after a long break can be hard. Especially when it is cold outside and everyone around seems to be dying with the flu or ear and sinus infections. You might have been thriving in the first week, but once you hit the second week, you feel as though you just hit a brick wall. It's been less than ten days worth of classes and you already feel ten weeks behind. The amount of homework due already has made you realize that the last six weeks you spent lounging around at home really have been more harm than good. Here are a few tips to get you back into the swing of things and start thriving not just surviving.

New Year New Planner:
Write down all exams and days homework is due in a planner or set reminders on your phone so that you know what you have to be prepared for each day and be more able to efficiently utilize your time!

Study Groups:
Early in the semester can be very confusing and full of dry readings, if you get together with friends and take turns, you can make the text more palatable and allow for more people to understand the text and class as a whole.

Stick To Those Resolutions:
If you wake up and work out in the morning, you WILL feel much more awake throughout the entire day. Certain foods, alcohol and oversleeping can make you feel sluggish and worse off than you would be otherwise. Plus certain foods will help to combat any diseases you or your roommates may encounter.

Nothing is Worth Your Stress:
If you are stressing already, you're thinking too much. Enjoy your time back. Yeah try and get your work done, but no work is worth losing your sanity. Have good friends and good times this semester lovely.

I know that's all easier said than done. But I believe in you so you should beleieve in yourself too. Don't give up. Eat healthy, try and avoid the flu and just have a good time this semester. You don't have to reinvent yourself, you just have to be happy with who you are and as long as you're happy and healthy, surrounded by people who care about and motivate you, nothing can tear you down. Never forget that.