The end of the quarter is drawing near, which means finals are right around the corner. Balancing schoolwork, maintaining a social life and preserving your happiness can feel impossible with exceptional levels of stress in the equation.

Fear not—with these six essentials tips, you will be sailing smoothly through the next few weeks into a beautiful week of relaxation before the best time of the year, spring quarter.

1. Seek out your serene study spots early in the week. Getting to the library at 10 p.m. the night before your three finals will result in panic and a study spot on the floor. Although the Anderson Commons are great, they fill up fast. Explore a small coffee shop or take a walk through a different academic building. Ruffatto Hall on the corner of Evans and High Street and Daniels College of Business both often have great study nooks. In addition to the well-known Stella’s Coffee House, there’s a new coffee shop on Pearl Street, Steam Espresso Bar, which has great study spots.

2. Remember to take care of yourself. Taking an exam while un-showered, exhausted and famished never ends well —also, no one will want to sit by you if you’re drowning in the same stench you’ve been engulfed in since the beginning of the week. In addition to basic hygienic tasks, take 30 minutes out of the day to go for a run or do something active. The undeniable endorphins will serve as the perfect study break. Although Denver’s weather is as unpredictable as your grade in Organic Chemistry, refreshing spring weather should be soon approaching. Taking a break to walk around Wash Park or bringing your assigned reading to Driscoll Green could be the change of scenery that you need to refocus.

3. Not only should you not be wearing the shirt you’ve had on since the beginning of the week, consider dressing up the day of your hardest exam. The aphorism “dress well, test well” undoubtedly carries some truth. If you feel good about how you look, that confidence will transcend to matters outside of your appearance too. It might mean waking up 15 minutes earlier, but little things such as this can make a huge difference.

4. What’s more comforting than a home-cooked meal? Consider going to the grocery store instead of stocking up on junk food munchies. Making a meal with friends the night before your final could be relaxing, nutritious and social. Whether your meal ends up being Ramen Noodles or something more gourmet, cater to your time schedule and budget with a moderately healthy dinner break.

5. Prioritize your time. If there’s a specific time to shed the poor habit so many of us suffer from, procrastination, this is it. Although you may have made it eight weeks without it, investing in a planner isn’t a terrible idea. Whether you find one at Barnes and Noble or use the last few pages of a disorganized notebook, discover a way to stay on top of deadlines.

6. Repeat this mantra: School comes first. Although Merchant’s Mile High Saloon on a Thursday night can draw you in like a kid to a candy shop, there will be plenty of occasions to celebrate, come spring quarter. The common occurrence of FOMO (fear of missing out) shall too pass. Acing your Marketing exam will be much more fulfilling than the $20 you spend on Long Islands and an awful night of sleep.

The fabulous thing about the quarter system is that classes fly by. On the other hand, finals seem to appear out of thin air. Utilize these tips and Spring Break will be here sooner than you can say “Mexico 2014; no regrets.”