The end of the school year is approaching fast, and that means many of us students are being hit with a bad case of needing to get out of school. But, before we all decide to stop caring, here's a few tips that can help you get a better nights sleep.

• Prepare the Night Before.

If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, this is an important step for you. Having an outfit picked out and your bag packed can give you more time in the morning to sleep in, and maybe even eat breakfast or do a homework assignment that you didn't do the night before.

• Power Down.

Another part of getting a good night's sleep is going to bed at the right time. Staying up late on the weekends isn't a bad thing. However, if you make it a habit on weekdays to stay up until 3 a.m. playing Fortnight, it could affect how well you operate the next morning.

• Don't Hit Snooze.

Based on recent studies, scientists have proven that hitting snooze multiple times can make you less likely to get out of bed in the morning. Unfortunately, most of us already knew that. Instead of hitting the snooze button, try setting multiple alarms, and setting your phone further away from where you sleep.

Exam week is fast approaching and I, probably like many of you, have not started studying. Unfortunately for us, we only have a few days left until we are met with midterms, which in my opinion are the worst week of the school year. A large percentage of our grade depends on these tests and projects. How are we supposed to prepare for all of them? Here are a few tips that I found to be very helpful.

• Organize a study group.

While studying with friends can sometimes be very counterproductive, if everyone is focused it can actually be very helpful. For example, if you aren't understanding a math concept, and your parents or siblings can't help you with it, maybe one of your classmates can. It is also beneficial to teach someone a part of a subject. This can help you to better understand what you are teaching them.

• Practice with old exams and tests.

If your siblings have taken these exams before, then they might be able to tell you what the format will be like. There are also many websites available that have practice exams available.

• Take regular breaks.

Studies have shown that taking regular breaks during studying can actually help you to retain more information. So eat some brain food, or take a 20 minute brain break.

• Write your own study guides.

Even though many teachers give you study guides (except the one class you really need one for) it is good for you to make your own study material. Flashcards, quizlets, or even just a piece of notebook paper with questions and information on it can really help you understand what you're studying.

• Take a walk before your exam.

Even if it's just a short walk down your street or around your house, walking has been shown to help you calm down before exams.

Ever wonder how you can keep up your grades while balancing sports and having a social life? Me too. Being a high schooler isn't just about having a boyfriend or girlfriend, or even starting varsity for the sports you play. It's about being prepared for college, and for life after high school. So, how can you be ready to take on all of these things at the same time? Here's a few tips.

• Plan.

As someone who never has her life together, I would say that one of the things that helps me the most when I really need to be organized is having a plan. Normally I will be doing homework while planning out my schedule for the next day. Planning is beneficial for you and for anyone who you might be practicing with or helping the next day.

• Choose the right crowd.

Make friends who are good influences, or who have the same interests as you. This will help you stay on the right path and keep your life going in the direction you want it to go.

• Take time for you.

With a busy schedule, it is always hard to find time to relax or just take a minute to slow down. However, relaxation is always a good idea and can help you to recharge after a long day of listening to teachers go on for what seems like forever. It's important to remember that you can turn down plans that you aren't obligated to go to, just so you can have that one night alone.

It's never too early, or too late, to develop good study habits. The sooner you learn what study habits work for you, the better grades you're going to get.

• Learn what works.

Are you an auditory, visual, or tactile learner? If you like to learn by listening to the material, you most likely are an auditory learner. If this is the case, I would advise you to record your lessons and work in quiet areas to avoid distractions. For any visual learners, you should take notes on your lessons. Charts, graphs and diagrams will be your best friend when it comes time to study. However, if you are a tactile learner, you could make flash cards and use mnemonic devices to remember. Check your Naviance account for a quiz to help you find out what style of learning is best for you!

• Don’t cram.

As soon as a teacher tells you that you will be having a test, determine times that will work for you to study. Depending on how well you know the subject already, it could be 15 minutes per day or even 45 if that is how much review you need. Reviewing for a short time each day is better than cramming the night before! Setting alarms, making to-do lists and scheduling times for specific activities can all help you to get the grade that you want.

• Put all distractions away.

Just for a short amount of time, I'm sorry, but you're going to have to get off your phone. Put any distractions into a separate room, that way you can focus while you're trying to study for a test from Mr. Merz or Mrs. Heinrich.

• Ask for help.

If something doesn't make sense or you're stuck on something, don't be afraid to ask for help. Talk to your teacher, or ask that one smart kid in your class if he or she can help you understand the material.

• Put yourself to the test.

It's always a good idea to quiz yourself before you take a test. Doing this will help you to see what information you know very well, and what you need improvement on. Once you figure out the information you don't know and answer your own questions, you are more likely to remember this fact on that day of the test.

• Keep your cool.

This test will not be as bad as you've made yourself think it will be. Take a deep breath, don't rush and wear your lucky socks.