Now that we’ve all eaten our hearts out over the holidays and binged practically every show on Netflix, it’s time to switch gears back into school mode. We may be dreading the transition, but there are a few tricks to make it a little less painful!

Adjust your sleep schedule beforehand.

Waking up for those 8 AM classes is going to be rough after getting up at noon every day for a month straight. Start to shift your routine now by actually going to bed before midnight and getting yourself out of bed at an earlier time. By the time the first day of the semester rolls around, waking up should be a piece of cake.

Use a planner or bullet journal.

I know what you’re thinking… “I don’t need a planner, I can remember everything I need to do.” I used to have this mindset as well, but hear me out. Don’t look at using a planner as a chore but instead as a method as a way to set goals and organize your future. Recently, “bullet journaling” has become all the rage and rightfully so. Bullet journaling is a combination of a planner, a journal, a to-do list, and even a sketchbook. Because you start with a blank notebook, you have the power to create it into whatever you like. You can use it to remember your upcoming exams, track your weekly workouts, or jot down your grocery list. The more you get into it, the more planning your semester becomes, dare I say, fun.

Actually read the syllabus.

Let's be honest, you're not going to pay attention when your professor is going over it in class. As mind numbing as it can be, thoroughly reading the syllabus of each of your classes can be very helpful. Not only does it get you in the mindset for the semester ahead, but it may have a lot of important information you don’t want to miss out on. It’s beneficial to be aware of how often you will be tested, attendance policies, office hours and location, letter grade distributions, etc. This is also a great opportunity to use your previously mentioned planner to condense all of the important dates from all of your classes to be prepared for any future conflicts.

Purge your junk.

All college students, both those living on- and off-campus, are prone to hoarding. Whether it’s clothing or hair products or old school supplies, most of us are guilty of owning way too much stuff. A great way to start the semester on a good note is to throw out the junk you have laying around that you know you don’t need. Go through your closet and donate any clothes that are old and ratty, don’t fit, or you just haven’t touched in forever. Throw out any old, unusable notebooks and try to sell your old dust-collecting textbooks. Decluttering your room will help you start your classes with a clean and tidy environment to study and relax in.

Go back to school a day early.

Now, this is definitely not a necessity, but for those that are especially stuck in winter break mode, returning to school a day earlier than you planned, if you have that option, can be super helpful. Having an entire day to just get yourself ready without the pressure of having class in the morning is a great feeling. Take the extra day to unpack all of your clothes, do some laundry, go grocery shopping, and tidy up so that you have more time to relax and catch up with friends before class starts. Just physically being back at school will help your mind get in school mode a lot faster.