No matter what you did for Spring Break, whether it was a tropical trip with all your friends, a trip to the ski mountains, or a trip back home, we’re all dealing with the same reality of getting back into the swing of things. The minute you get back from Spring Break, it feels like you have a million and one things to do, that you just happened to have forgotten about while you were away, they seem daunting, but ultimately you’ll get done what you need to. Here’s how to deal with all those major (and minor) stresses, after you lived it up during Spring Break…

1. Take a deep breath.

I know it sounds cliché but the first thing you need to do when you feel overwhelmed is to take a deep breath. Nothing in the history of stress has gotten solved by the person who is huffing and puffing about what they need to get done. You need to be calm and set your mind to “chill mode” before you conquer any type of task.

2. Unpack.

There are two types of people in this world; those who unpack right away and those who leave their suitcase all bundled up and live out of it for weeks after they return from vacation. Personally, I unpack the minute I get home (a lesson I learned from my dad) but trust me, it’s much easier to get done what you need without having your exploding luggage being a hazard every time you get out of bed or attempt to leave your room.

3. Make a schedule.

There is nothing I love more than making a schedule. It is the simplest way to keep track of all due dates and things you need to accomplish in the near future. If you’re really crafty and organized, you can even color code it to your subjects.

4. Say "Hi" to your friends.

As important as it is to get yourself organized, it’s also important to say hi to your friends. Some people have been with them all week, but others have been away from each other since the beginning of break. No matter what, taking an hour to hang out with your friends; get a meal and catch up, is just as important as all your academic responsibilities. Those are your people, you missed them, so give yourself a minute to enjoy their company, it’ll help alleviate some of your stress.

5. Make mini to do lists.

You made a schedule, now make a mini to do list. This seems redundant, but it’ll definitely help! Seeing a huge schedule of all the things you have to get done might be disheartening and could deter you from doing any of the tasks at all. A mini to do list will break down what you need to done in order of importance, without making you feel totally overwhelmed and ready to pull out your hair.

6. Organize your calendar and see what really needs to get done first.

This goes along with number five. My dad always used to tell me, take one toe of the elephant at a time, because the whole elephant is too big to eat. Weird that he would encourage a little girl to ingest any part of an elephant, but his analogy had merit. It reminds me that taking on a huge task is discouraging; take a little piece of it at a time, and eventually it’ll all get done.

7. Get enough sleep.

This one seems obvious, but it’s true. “According to the National Institutes of Health, the average adult sleeps less than seven hours per night. In today's fast-paced society, six or seven hours of sleep may sound pretty good. In reality, though, it's a recipe for chronic sleep deprivation.” You hear that? You need your sleep! Get enough rest, it’ll make it easier to function and actually study when it comes to midterms.

8. Eat regularly.

This also seems evident but people sometimes forget! I’m not sure how some people just forget to eat, but low and behold, it happens. Not only is it important to eat, but eat healthily. Sitting at the library, it’ll be a lot more helpful if you at a piece of grilled chicken or a sandwich rather than a Hershey's bar. The chocolate may seem more appealing, but your brain will thank you later for the alternative.

9. Workout.

Everyone says, working out reduces stress and helps you focus. Well, guess what, they’re right. The gym is a great way to take the edge off of studying. It helps you sweat out all the toxins in your body and when you sit down to learn the next chapter of whatever you’re studying, it’ll give you a clear mind. At the same time, it won’t hurt to get that rockin’ body you’ve always wanted.

10. Get sh*t done.

Last but not least, get sh*t done. It may seem pretty unclear sometimes, but you are at schoolto learn!!!!!!!As surprising as that may seem, you are there to get a great education and pick up something you didn’t know before. If you put in the time, you will succeed, and some may disagree—but there’s no better feeling than acing an exam. Study hard. Spring Break may be over, but before you know it, the semester will be coming to an end and you’ll be back home. Do what you can, while you can.