Going home for winter break is a great way to de-stress. It is a time where students can relax and catch up on sleep that was lost during exam week.  

The bad part about being on winter break, however, is that all good things must come to an end. The end of winter break means the beginning of second semester. 

So, welcome back, everyone. The start of a new semester can be stressful for some. Classes are in different locations, which adds to the stress of knowing if you are in the correct room or not, and we meet new class instructors that have different ways of structuring class. 

Coming back is not always easy, but there are ways to make it less stressful. According to SignUpGenius’s article on “22 Tips for College Students to Stress Less,” there are several ways to avoid or minimize stress.  

The first two tips on the list include keeping a detailed calendar and prioritizing. “Start each semester by pulling class syllabi and adding in important dates to your digital calendar — or paper if you still prefer the written word.”  

Typically, the first day of class is when the instructor goes over the syllabus in detail. If you are someone who does not look at the syllabus after that, this tip would be even more helpful by preparing ahead and knowing what assignments are due on what date. 

“When you add an item in your planner or digital calendar, color-code it with a ‘must do’ or a ‘want to do’ color. This will help you set priorities and make choices about how to spend your time”.  

I, personally, have even had just a list of “must do’s.” In this case, I put them in order of what needs to be done first and so on.  

This helps so that there are no steps missed or makes it so I am not in a situation where I work on an assignment that is not due until next week when I should be working on a paper that is due tomorrow.  

Some other tips mentioned in the article include those of self-care, keeping organized and finding a routine. As far as self-care goes, it plays a big role in our day and affects our overall health.

Along with staying fit, it is important to eat healthy as well. “A healthy body is less stressed, but with all the freedom that comes with college, nobody is making you eat your vegetables anymore.”  

It is easy to grab a bag of chips in between class or to drink caffeine all day, but your body would thank you more if you ate healthier and stayed hydrated.  

Karena Ozier is a junior elementary education major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or at kmozier@eiu.edu.