By this point in the semester, most students are feeling massive amounts of stress and pain. It’s a time where motivation is lost, and we discover that we’re lazier than we originally thought and decide that no class before 11 a.m. is worth going to. The results of this can be disastrous, as slipping up before the end of the semester can be treacherous to not only students’ GPAs but to their self-esteem.

Follow these three simple steps to not only power through the end of the semester but also to get back on the right track to achieving a GPA you’ll be proud to tell your distant relatives about during the holidays.

1. Schedule your time

Remember that planner that you used the first few weeks of school that ended up at the bottom of your book bag? It’s time to get it out again.

Scheduling life can make things so much easier and can really take a lot of stress out of your life. Use a planner not only to mark down assignments for classes but also to schedule all the things that need to be accomplished that day whether they be school-related or otherwise. With finals and the end of the semester just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start planning ahead.

A planner can be extremely helpful when choreographing final projects with group members so that you all aren’t cramming to finish it the night before. Using a planner will not only help you feel better about your academics, but will help you feel better about life.

2. Take time for yourself

During this crazy time in the school year, it can be very hard to schedule time in the day to do the things that make you happy. This is essential to maintaining sanity and will keep you motivated to press on through the end of the semester.

Whether it’s naps, Netflix, hitting the gym or reading a good book, there is always something to do that benefits mental health and happiness. Find what yours is, and don’t neglect it just because school work is piling up.

Set aside a small amount of time each day to pause from your hectic school schedule, and never forget to treat yourself.

3. Know that what you’re doing is worth it

It can be very hard to remember what the point of all the craziness of college is when times get tough.

When you’re feeling down or considering giving up, sit down and write a list of all of your goals, both short-term and long-term. This will help by refocusing you and helping you understand the point of all of your hard work and the stress that comes along with it.

One day, when you live in the place that you’ve always dreamed of living in and are working the job of your dreams, you’ll be happy that you worked so hard in school. Keep your head up — you have so much further to go.

Keeping these things in mind will help college students everywhere get their heads back on straight before the painful and stressful last few weeks of the semester. So take a deep breath, make the time for both what you need to do and time for the things that you love and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep fighting to get there and finish strong to make everyone proud.