The dawn of a new semester is often colored by hues of apprehension and anxiety. An unknown professor welcomes you into an unfamiliar class, the digital and physical blackboards of which are soon occupied by a host of unrecognizable concepts.

It is these very concepts that are to be digested and made second nature, able to be regurgitated verbatim and carefully applied, in only a few months’ time. All of this, four times over, jammed into a schedule already struggling to contain extracurriculars, a social life, and somehow — among it all — trying to actually be happy. I went ahead and compiled a few tips to, at the very least, make you think about reading about responsible work habits.

1. Take organized notes

: Write legibly, try to delineate important ideas — we all know the drill by now! Theoretical implementation, though, carries little weight. At the very least, dating and titling notes and assignments should ultimately help mitigate the cumulative load of midterms and finals. As with anything, find what works best for you.

2. Stick with the initial high:

There’s always extra effort and care put into the semester’s early assignments…until that initial high falters and wanes, eventually deferring to a relaxed sort of complacency that no doubt feels more comfortable, and most likely more normal. But try to stick with it; good habits may be born!

3. Be present in class:

It goes beyond just showing up. I mean yes, do that — but genuine attendance exceeds a mindless physical presence and necessitates attuned mental presence as well. Although regular participation is ideal, simply listening attentively also constitutes a legitimate example of in-class engagement.

4. Ask questions:

To professors, to TAs, to classmates, and to friends. There really is no shame in asking a clarifying question in class. No one will judge you for its perceived inanity, I promise! It is a great way to learn both content and people — the latter within reason, of course. No one wants to be interrogated, not even by a friend.

5. Take care of yourself:

Ah, here it is, that stubborn, perennial platitude, the importance of which many known yet still ignore. It looks different for everyone, but some inevitable truths of self-care persist; for example, you need to sleep more. Such things are certainly difficult to reconcile with a full schedule, but all you can do is try your best to prioritize your own well-being. In a word, new semesters are stressful. But they do not have to be so — or at least not cripplingly so. As in any arena of life, college demands good habits to produce favorable outcomes. And there is no better time to reform the regrettable practices of the past than at the start of a new semester.

An expanse of weeks lies ahead, open and malleable. The design and categorization of this time is entirely in your hands. While most of these tips may seem obvious, they still warrant consideration, as even their imperfect manifestations would likely prove productive in some regard.