The dilemma of balancing schoolwork and a social life is a constant struggle. As midterms begin to creep around this time of the semester, students feel even greater pressures to not do poorly in school but also to not miss out on the social scene college has to offer. Here are some of the best tips for how to survive through the hysteria of term papers and parties:

1. Write things down. Spend a night at the beginning of each week to go through every syllabus to write down upcoming assignments, tests and quizzes. Not only will this increase productivity, but it can also help you see when you have multiple assignments due. By writing down your entire homework schedule, you can avoid making dates on nights when you should be prepping for an exam.

2. Take breaks. When studying, make sure to take breaks to keep your brain focused. Studies have shown that you should take a five-minute break for every 30 minutes of studying. Allowing yourself that time to text your friends back or take a BuzzFeed quiz will increase your mood and keep you in the social loop as well.

3. Make a plan. Making plans in advance is a great way to avoid missing last-minute assignments. When you know you have plans with friends later in the week, you can get your assignments done in a timely manner, as opposed to rushing through at the last moment.

4. Clean up. It’s been known that a clean room can improve your overall mood. When you’re in need of a study break, take 30 minutes to clean your room, do some laundry and get organized. A clean environment keeps the mind at ease, and it can also be an incentive for your friends to come hang out — as no one wants to sit on stacks of old pizza boxes.

5. Eat right. Make a homework night into a social event by making healthy hors d’oeuvres for your friends. Eating healthy foods while studying can help your brain stay focused; plus, your friends will all love you for providing study snacks to eat. Some examples of healthy foods: homemade hummus and cucumbers, pan-seared cinnamon apples with peanut butter or smoothies with flavored protein powder (to help you push through those last chapters of “War and Peace”).

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Follow Lindsey Stegemoller on Twitter.