College is basically chaos with a side of existential dread. You’ve got classes, homework that multiplies like rabbits, maybe a job, friends who want to hang out, and somewhere in there, you’re supposed to figure out what to do with your life. Half the time, you feel like you’re drowning, and the other half, you’re wondering how that girl in your economics class manages to look put-together while you’re running on two hours of sleep and whatever was left in your mini fridge. Here’s the thing, though, she’s probably just as much of a mess as you are. Some people just get better at juggling all the crazy stuff without completely losing it.

Build a Schedule That Works

Most people hate the idea of scheduling because it sounds like something your mom would make you do. But winging it is how you end up with three papers due on the same day while you haven’t done laundry in two weeks, and you’re pretty sure something’s growing in your dorm sink. You don’t need some fancy system either; finding the best schedule maker online is probably easier than trying to keep everything straight in your head, especially when you’re stressed and can barely remember what day it is.

The big mistake everyone makes is only writing down classes and maybe study time. You need to put in everything: when you’re going to eat, sleep, hit the gym, even when you’re planning to binge-watch Netflix with your roommate. That history paper might look like a few hours of work, but once you start researching and realize you have no idea what you’re talking about, suddenly it’s an all-day thing.

Say No without Feeling Terrible

This one sucks because nobody wants to be the person who can’t hang out. But if you say yes to everything, you’ll end up half-heartedly completing all of it. Your grades will be mediocre, you’ll be stressed constantly, and you still won’t have time for the stuff that matters. The same goes for campus activities; there are a million clubs and organizations begging for members, but joining five different groups means you won’t actually contribute to any of them.

You’ve got to pick your battles. Maybe keeping your GPA up is the priority because you want to get into grad school. Or maybe you’re more focused on getting leadership experience and building your resume. Whatever it is, use that to decide what’s worth your time and what isn’t.

Master Deep Work

Sitting in the library for four hours with Instagram open in another tab isn’t studying. It’s just really expensive procrastination. Your brain has been trained to expect constant entertainment, so when you try to focus on organic chemistry, it feels like torture.

You need to find a place where you can concentrate and then protect that time like your life depends on it. Some people prefer working in total silence; others work better with background noise. Figure out what works for you and then put your phone somewhere you can’t see it.

Find Your Peak Performance Hours

Your roommate might be one of those weirdos who’s functional at 7 AM, but that doesn’t mean you have to pretend to be. If your brain doesn’t wake up until noon, stop fighting it. There’s no prize for suffering through morning classes when you could schedule them for later and get better grades.

Figure out when you’re sharpest and plan around that. Some people can knock out calculus homework before breakfast. Others need three cups of coffee and can’t think straight until after lunch. Work with what you’ve got instead of against it.

Build Flexibility into Your Plans

Things go sideways in college. That’s just how it is. Your professor will randomly assign a group project the week before finals. Your best friend will have a crisis and need you. You’ll catch whatever plague is going around the dorms at the worst possible time.

Don’t pack your schedule so tight that one hiccup ruins everything. Maybe keep Sunday afternoons free for whatever disaster strikes that week. Start big assignments early enough that you won’t completely lose it if something comes up. Life’s messy, and your schedule should account for that.

Take Care of the Basics

You can’t survive on Red Bull and sheer willpower forever, though college definitely makes you try. Pulling all-nighters might seem productive, but your brain stops working properly when you’re exhausted. Living on dining hall pizza and whatever’s in the vending machine makes you feel gross and sluggish.

Get some sleep, eat real food when possible, and move your body occasionally. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about not feeling like garbage all the time.

Getting your act together in college isn’t about becoming some productivity guru who has everything figured out. Most people learn this stuff through spectacular failures and way too much stress. You can skip some of that drama by being realistic about what you can handle and making smart choices about where to spend your time and energy.