With most colleges starting classes for the spring 2021 semester in the next week or two, it would definitely be a good idea to learn how to set yourself up for a successful, lower stress semester after the crazy year we just finished. If you're not opposed to a little bit of hard work up front, you can make certain that your semester will be fantastic while avoiding burnout - the college student dream!

If you don't already have a planner/calendar, you need to get one! Staying organized is essential to minimizing stress, especially during midterm season. Even doing the bare minimum of just keeping track of when your projects, assignments, and exams are due can make a massive difference in keeping your mental health stable and your grades high. Take it from me, someone who never even picked up a planner before college - it's a non-negotiable after I spent most of my freshman year forgetting due dates and nearly missing exams! Learn from my mistakes and get yourself a planner TODAY.

Let's say you're one of those mythical people who actually had good organizational habits before coming to college. How else can you guarantee your own success? Well, my recommendation is to get started on your classes early! Most classes have a set timing, with assignments always being due at a certain time on a certain day of the week, exams being (mostly) evenly spaced apart, etc. Most classes also tend to start off a little slower and get more time-consuming and faster-paced as you progress through the semester. This means that with some extra labor during the first week or two of class, you can get through all the simpler assignments rapidly and you will actually be a little ahead in the class. This is great news because if you hit an especially tough assignment or concept you struggle with, your hard work at the beginning of the semester gave you some extra time to figure out your problem and get through it!

College might be hard, but you can get off to a great start this semester if you follow these tips!