It is that time of year ,again for students. Most college kids are already half way through fall semester. While for some, the phrase of joy, “mid-semester break,” rings triumphantly, others, are bombarded with more and more work as professors pump up the pace.

If you are a college student and feel, frankly, overwhelmed by this unexpected avalanche, don’t consider dropping out just yet. There are plenty of tried and true methods of getting through the last (brutal) half of the semester.

Tip number one is obvious and may seem improbable at this point, but, try and get more sleep. Yes, I know the shiny blue bottle of energy drinks and late night coffee runs are tempting and sometimes seem like a heaven-sent gift from the gods, but trust me, such methods of caffeine overloads will not reward you with the GPA you want. The best thing you can do for a bombarded brain is to sleep. You don’t even have to go to sleep for the night. A quick power nap in between cram sessions is sometimes all you need to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit, leaving you fully equipped when you awake (you will, don’t worry) to take on that biology exam.

The next tip is manage your time. Again, I know this is easier said than done, but it really is helpful. Invest in a planner, desk blotter, calender, anything to organize your hectic schedule. Set out time lines and establish end goals. The feeling of relief when you highlight that last assignment off in your planner is wonderful beyond words.

My last tip for college students that are pulling out their hair around the time the leaves begin to turn is this, have fun and take a breather. Too much studying is bad news and will only leave you feeling drained. On top of that, you will retain very little new knowledge and find it difficult to comprehend and conceptualize the knowledge that you already have retained. Take a night off during the week and watch a movie, read a magazine or just grab a coffee with friends. Your brain will thank you for it when you return to the desk of doom the next night. Your mind will be refreshed and ready to conquer anything!

And don’t forget, if none of these tips work, you can always visit your professors during office hours with a box of tissues in hand and resort to my very last piece of advice for you: begging.