After a long break it can be hard to get back into the swing of things at school. Here are some tips on how to stress less and study more this semester:

Find your study sweet spot...

A striped chair in a corner of the library, a specific desk in an abandoned classroom, a hallway with a window overlooking an auditorium, a large table in a coffee shop, another college's library - these are some of my study sweet spots, places where I feel relaxed and can focus. Finding a particular place where you work well can establish a pattern in your brain where you + sweet spot = time to study. Make sure the spot you choose is free enough from distractions to focus, but not so comfortable that you fall asleep.

... or change your study sweet spot.

A study sweet spot can become a distraction itself if you become so comfortable there that you no longer work productively. If that happens, change up your space. Try an alternative library, or a local coffee shop, or somewhere on campus you've never tried before. Anywhere will do. Sometimes a change of scenery is all your subconscious needs to enable you to focus.

Set a timer for long assignments.

Cutting large food into bite-sized pieces makes it easier to eat. The same is true for assignments. Need to write a five page paper on Sunday? Don't cram through it for eight hours straight. Set a timer for an hour and focus. When it goes off, take a ten minute break. Go for a quick walk, grab some water, text your mom, whatever. Get up from where you are and give your mind and body a break. Then set the timer again and keep going.

To study buddy or not to study buddy?

Working with others can be great, but it can also be a distraction. My rule is this: I only study with someone if we are working on homework from the same class. If I'm not focusing on the same thing as the person I'm studying with, I get distracted by the social aspect and end up not getting much done. Maybe the opposite is true for some people, but that's how it works for me. Bottom line, know yourself and what you get distracted by. If you study best with someone, find a partner who is just as dedicated to the homework as you are; if you study best alone, do that and socialize later.

Don't study during mealtimes.

I get it. Sometimes lunch hour is all you have to read the assignment for that one class. That's fine. But don't study at every meal. Set aside your mealtimes as a time to relax. Let your mind unwind, enjoy your food, and enjoy the people around you. If you eat alone, listen to a podcast, watch a TED Talk, read a book, or do something else that lets your mind disengage from school and homework.

Create a study ritual.

My favorite part of studying is my study ritual. For me, this consists of a hot cup of tea, a set of colored pens and highlighters, and a playlist on my laptop (classical for homework, jazz for writing). Find a way to treat yourself for studying and get your mind relaxed.

A word of advice: if you do create a study playlist, avoid songs with words. Whenever I hear a song I know the words to, I can't keep myself from mentally singing along.