High School is a hassle to go through. You’ve reached your last mandatory years of school, and it gets harder every year. So for the new batch of eighth graders who are just getting into the swing of things and anyone else who’s beginning to doubt their preparedness for this new school year, here are six things you need to know.

Do’s:

1. Do bring plenty of supplies. You are going to be doing a lot of writing, no matter what grade you’re in. Whether it’s taking notes, writing essays, or filling out worksheets, you will always need extra #2 pencils and paper. Also, having an extra folder or notebook is always a good idea if you have enough room in your bag. One of the worst situations you can have in high school is when you spill coffee all over your new notebook, and you don’t have another to help reduce the stress on your now caffeine-deprived brain. Pens, highlighters, and index cards are some examples of smaller items which you can just toss in your bag for those just in case moments.

2. Do be prepared to work all day. This means getting enough sleep. The National Sleep Foundation at ‘ http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/teens-and-sleep ‘ says that teens need 8-10 hours of sleep per night, and that only three of every 20 teens say that they sleep 8 ½ hours a night during the school week. But a lack of sleep can hurt your grades, especially if you spend class time with your head on your desk catching a few of those lost z’s. Not getting enough sleep can also affect your mood and your ability to concentrate, so keep that in mind when you’re debating whether to keep watching Netflix at 2am or shut down your devices and get some much-needed rest.

3. Do stay organized. Having (and actually using!) binders, folders, and agenda books is essential to stay organized, but don’t forget one more item: notes. Writing little notes to yourself on index cards, in your agenda book, or even on your hands is a way to remind yourself of that paper that’s due next week, or the test coming up on Friday.

But if keeping those due dates straight in your head is getting to be too much, there are still other ways for you to keep track of your assignments. Free apps are available for both Android and iOS devices that make it easy to organize and remember your assignments. Any.DO is an Android app that allows you to create lists of tasks, which you can organize by importance and set alarms that will remind you of what you haven’t done. For iOS users, the Reminders app is already built into your device. This app can make to-do lists, but it can also connect directly to Siri, who can add more tasks and reminders at your command. With these methods of organization in your school-day arsenal, you’ll be all set to tackle any assignment high school may throw at you.

Don’ts:
4. Don’t block the hallways. There’s nothing that ruins a good day faster than having to push through and trip over twenty people while trying to make it to your next class. With so many kids filling the halls, it’s hard not to get caught up in the mess, but there are some ways you can avoid it.

First, keep moving. If you stay to the right and don’t stop walking, people will be less likely to bump into you. Second, avoid distractions. Texting or talking while walking can slow you down, thus slowing down everyone else behind you. If you really need to talk to someone, pull off into one of the locker bays or just out of the way of the main stream of people.

Third, know that there are many different staircases at FCHS. At the far end of each hallway, there are additional staircases that aren’t used as much. Sure, most people prefer to use the two staircases flanking the library, but choosing to take a less-traveled route could save you some time and also help ease the congestion on the other staircases.

5. Don’t procrastinate. Putting off a project that isn’t due for another two weeks until you only have one day left to finish it causes stress that you don’t need and could have avoided. To make sure that you don’t procrastinate, break assignments into parts. Set smaller deadlines for yourself, such as to come up with a project outline tonight, then begin research tomorrow. Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of thinking that you’ve still got time and can afford to put it off.

Next, try to get rid of as many distractions as possible. Having your phone sitting next to you may be too tempting, so put it in another room, or at least out of easy reach when you work. Finally, don’t over-complicate things. If you think too much about how difficult the work may be, you’ll psych yourself out of doing anything constructive. Just start working. Most of the time, people don’t mean to procrastinate, but they end up getting stuck in the planning stage and never actually start working. But if you break the workload down and keep reminding yourself to just do it, you can complete your assignments without suffering the consequences of procrastination.

6. Don’t stress out. High school is stressful, with schoolwork, sports, friends, (and drama!), but there are ways that you can help you reduce your stress levels. When you feel stressed, take a deep breath and slow down. The world may seem to be moving quickly, but you can slow it down by finding your own calm, quiet place. This sanctuary could be a real place or simply an imagined one, but it should be a place where you feel at peace. If you can’t seem to find such a place, you can ask someone else for advice or simply an ear to listen to what you have to say. In school, there are guidance counselors, teachers, and friends whom you can talk to. Other ways to deal with stress are to listen to music and to try and laugh. Having some of your favorite songs to listen to can help you meditate, and laughter lightens the mood along with your spirits.