As I’m sitting in the basement of the library, in the middle of the day while it’s 80 degree outside all I can think about is how warm, sunny and less stressful the beach is. It’s the midterm season again and spring break is right around the corner. Getting through these last weeks and going into the home stretch is ALWAYS the hardest part of the year for me, especially since I live in Charleston. Going to class and work seem so painful when there’s a beautiful blue sky out accompanied with a warm breeze. The sand and a good book is calling my name. Here’s some tips, tricks and suggestion to help you get through the next little but without skipping classes and a couple of places to visit:

1. Give yourself a goal- if you go to all your classes plus study for say 4+ hours, you get 5 hours at the beach. Give yourself relaxing time after you’ve done all your studying because lets be honest, if you go to the beach and say you’re gonna study after-it’s not gonna happen.

2. While you’re studying, lift that water bottle you’re drinking out of, do some squats while you’re reading, have a friend quiz you over and if you get something wrong, do 5 crunches or pushups.

3. Take one day a week that’s your ‘mush’ day. Don’t do any studying and relax. Especially during Midterms and finals. If you don’t set aside time to relax, it won’t get done.

4. Go downtown or go out to get food, and take two or three hours for that, then go back to studying

5. Take your studying outside!!!!!! Whether you’re enoing, sitting in Marion Square or just on a park bench, being outside will make a literal world of difference.

6. Eat healthy and eat regularly. Yes I know summer is coming up and you want to lose those extra ten pounds that you gained over Christmas break, BUT it will seriously affect your health and your brain if you stop eating or eat junk food. You’ll be sluggish, effecting the studying you’re doing and possibly hurting that GPA you’ve busted your butt for.

7. TREAT YO SELF- Don’t stress out too hard about your tests!!!!!!!!!!I I literally couldn’t stress this enough. Grades are important yes but they do NOT define who you are and in the end, you’ll look back and be like dang it wasn’t the thousands of hours in the library that you remember, but the one time you did something in the middle of all of it. The moments you did an enjoyable thing.

8. Go to the lighthouse on Folly. It's a beautiful place that doesn't have a huge amount of traffic. Go in the morning- it's quiet and has an incredible view.

9. Try late night at Butcher and Bee on the weekend. After countless hours of studying going there late at night and eating some great food.

Enjoy your time at college, be smart and love yourself!