So maybe you went a little overboard over the winter holidays. You left UBC bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and so crammed full of knowledge that you practically sneezed calculus. But you’re returning a little worse for wear…a couple kilos heavier, a couple IQ points dimmer, maybe even toting a brand new drinking habit. You may feel the pain of pushing yourself back into the rat-race of university, but you can get through it. These tips might help to make the trek to summertime a little more bearable.

Curb-Stomp the Hangover

Does your entire winter holiday seem like a vague blur of pajamas and Kahlua? You have likely recently experienced a rude awakening in the guise of that most hideous of student conditions: The Hangover. Your instinct is probably to reach for the aspirin, right? Wrong. Aspirin can irritate the stomach and Tylenol can cause liver damage when experiencing a hangover. Nice. Another cure that probably makes you want to vomit? Exercise. I’ll stop. Have some Gatorade to replenish your electrolytes, get some sleep or try a little Alka Seltzer. And spare us the “I’ll never drink again” tirade, you filthy liar.

Take Care of Business

While spending entire days (or weeks, I’m not judging), on the couch may have been a fantastic game plan for the holidays, it’s entirely likely that your profs may expect more from you. Figure out what you need to do to stay focused. Write down assignments, break your work up into chunks to avoid end-of-term aneurisms, and yes, do try to get to class, at least sporadically.

Find a place where you can get down to business. The coffee table in front of your TV is not one of those places. Neither is the bed. Try a quiet coffee shop and inject some caffeinated liquids while you study or, if you need some intense quiet time, try the Koerner library. If you’re into the whole nature thing, we have one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. Take a study break and explore the botanical garden, which is free to students. If you’re not back by dark, someone will send out a search party. Probably.

Chill Out, You Got This

University is stressful. However, freaking out like a howler monkey on acid is not going to help anyone. Finding ways to cope with stress and chill yourself out is integral in making it through this black hole of despair called Second Semester. Make time to do something you like to do, just because it makes you happy. Listen to music, do yoga, see friends, whatever. Schedule it in and keep the appointment like it was a meeting with an advisor. Only, actually go.

While you’re at it, try and eat some actual food. As in, food pyramid. As in, try to remember what a vegetable looks like when not in the form of a fry or batter-covered ring. And no, tempura does not count—just because it’s Japanese doesn’t mean it’s not an onion-ring. Eating right, believe it or not, does help a lot. You’ll have more energy, more stamina (for all kinds of things) and maybe be able to shed the remnants of the smorgasbords of holiday yum.