This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UPR chapter.

With the end of the trimester coming up for UPRRP students, we tend to stress out a lot, and since we have so much going on, we get very disorganized. Here are 8 tips to help you stay organized and keep your stress levels low:

1. Make a list

Everyone says this, but the reality is that it’s the most effective way to stay organized. Even if it’s a random list of different topics, if you feel like you’re forgetting something, you can always go back to that list to make sure everything is going according to plan. Not only is it great for organization, but the feeling you get when you cross out things you achieved is incomparable.

2. Put reminders on your phone

If you don’t like to physically write a list, you can set reminders on your phone or even in your notes app. On iPhone, you can make a list on the reminders app and set a time for when you want to be reminded so that you know exactly what you have to do at the exact moment you have to do it.

3. Write down upcoming events on your agenda or the calendar on your phone

If you have many events coming up and you want to make sure you go to all of them, but you feel like you can’t keep up, write them down in your agenda or in the calendar on your phone. This way, if more events keep coming up, you can check out if it conflicts with anything else. You can make it to all your events without a problem, or if you don’t want to go, you have time to come up with an excuse.

4. Leave Post-Its around your room

If there’s something you need to be reminded of in the morning but think you might forget, leave Post-Its around your room so that when you’re getting ready to leave, you remember what you need to take care of. For example, if you need to take your laptop to college but feel like you might forget, put a Post-It to make sure you don’t leave it behind.

5. Pick out your clothes for the next day

If you want to sleep more or simply just take less time getting ready in the morning, plan your clothes out the day before. For most of us, it takes around 10 to 15 minutes to find the perfect outfit, which can be a little tedious. To save time and not be rushed into a mediocre outfit in the morning, plan it out the night before, so you know if you have to iron a shirt or whether the shirt really goes with the pants or not.

6. Practice yoga or meditation

If you need to lower your stress levels, practicing yoga or meditation can be a good option for you. Through yoga, you get to exercise and stretch your body while meditating. It’s a good way to focus on yourself and handle your stress. If you don’t like the exercising part of yoga, you can always just meditate. You could go to the beach and listen to the waves for a while, or you could meditate in your home by yourself, even with the help of YouTube meditation videos.

7. Take a warm shower

One of the best ways to de-stress is taking a long, warm shower while listening to music. Whether you’re stressed or not, a relaxing shower is always good for calming and winding down your body. A warm shower can also help boost your mood and energy up so that you feel more focused once you start working on what you have to do.

8. Listen to your favorite music

Listening to music can be a great way to relax, especially when it’s middle school throwbacks like High School Musical, and you can sing your stress away. Another option is listening to classical music while studying to help you focus. This actually works very well and Spotify has many playlists that can help you concentrate.

Although we know it’s important to be responsible with schoolwork, sometimes, however much we try to relax, we can be overwhelmed. If you feel like you can’t take it, communicate with your professors and let them know, they’re human too and they’ll understand. Also, if you feel like your mental health is getting greatly affected, it’s always okay to look for professional help. Stay healthy!

Image Credit: 1, 2, 3, 4

8 Ways to Organize Yourself and De-stress