Meetings, assignments, and exams oh my! You look at your schedule for the week ahead and you feel like you’re at the bottom of Everest looking up.

1. Have a planner

The hardest and best thing you can do before your long week ahead is to lay out the times assignments are due and when you have meetings. I color code my planner so that I know what I have and when I have it. I highlight the more important things that I absolutely cannot forget. Another great tip is to break down longer assignments, like essays and projects, into mini deadlines so that you can work on it and you’re not overwhelmed trying to cram it in last minute.

2. Make a checklist

A checklist is a good way to make sure you remember everything you have to do. Believe it or not, the satisfaction of checking something off will motivate you to do everything you need to do. As you check off one thing, you will have to look over everything else you need to do so you are less likely to forget something. You can also add on to your checklist at any time because that is usually how these kinds of weeks go.

3. Allot for "Me" time

During a long and stressful week, it is necessary to take the time for yourself and refresh. You would never make it to the top of Everest if you didn’t pause and adjust. This could be a few hours of watching movies or resting or it could be 15 minutes to just sit down or play with your dog. Just take your mind off of the stress you feel from your busy week and spend time doing something you usually take for granted. You will feel refreshed and motivated to get through the rest of the week without feeling burnt out.

4. Balance Coffee with Rest

Personally, I live off of four or more cups of coffee a day during these stressful weeks. However, caffeine is not the solution all of the time. I can be jittery but my mind is fried which means I am not productive and I just feel awful. My best advice is to take time to chill out, take a nap, or go to bed early because you need as much energy as you can get for stressful weeks like this.

5. Treat Yo Self

At the end of the week, you thought you would never survive, take time to do what you love to do. Trash your finished checklist, close your laptop, and do what you want to do, not what you have to do. Go get ice cream, hang out with friends, or watch your favorite movie. You made it to the top of Everest so stop and enjoy the view. You earned it!