College can feel overwhelming, so The Cougar Chronicle interviewed a few organized Cougars, asking what it takes to succeed at CSUSM and how they manage stress despite having busy schedules.

Whether you work, volunteer, or commit yourself to extracurricular activities, these four tips can help you get organized and stay on top of your schoolwork while managing stress.

Plan things out.

Proper planning can drastically organize a person’s life. Scheduling due dates and events into calendars can help make sure you don’t miss anything. Creating daily list of achievable task helps put into perspective which assignments need the most immediate attention, helping you stay prioritized.

“I color coordinate everything depending on the course and importance of it,” said junior Unique Pruitt, “I’ll [also] cross things out as I go.”

Do the work

It should go without saying, but it must be said. It is not enough just to plan. Students must fulfill their objectives to expect positive results. It is not enough to dream, to hope and to wish for success. Success requires commitment, dedication, persistence, and perseverance.

“Balance work with personal time,” freshman Rachel Stevens said. “Mondays and Wednesdays, pretty much all I do is homework. Tuesdays and Thursdays I run, relax and hang out with [my friend], Sydney.”

Get involved.

Making friends and expressing your interest is a great way to be creative and social. Students suggest joining a club or finding extracurricular activities like bubble soccer or dodgeball to help manage stress while encouraging you to stay on top of your school assignments. Your future network of friends is a group of likeminded individuals, so go out and get to know them.

“I used to be in charge of the Cross Cultural Center,” said Pruitt. “Every first Tuesday of every month we spread Civility. Being around different people and seeing all the different cultures helps with the stress.”

Make time for yourself to unwind.

Take a break, meditate, be one with nature and take snapchats of yourself. Do anything to give yourself some time to reflect and readjust to the hectic schedule that comes with going to college.

“I’ll go down to Starbucks, grab a coffee and take a break,” freshman Sydney Nocon said. “[I’ll spend] however long it takes to recuperate and get back in the zone.”

“I watch Netflix and I eat chocolate,” said junior Jasmine Habis, student worker at the Hawk Center.

Spending time to unwind doing activities you love is important to success.

No matter how stressful school might seem, planning, producing, getting involved and making time for yourself will help you get through it and move towards a successful career.