Midterms have passed. The end of the semester is fast approaching. Even as you start planning for the time when you will prop your legs up somewhere soft and revel in the delight that comes when you have nothing to do (yes, I’m talking about Winter Break, but don’t get too excited – it’s not for a couple months yet), your assignment book will not be getting any emptier.

I’ve found that things tend to speed up as the semester draws to a close. This is the time when professors surprise you with sudden research papers, group projects that require you to become sociable, reading assignments that require you to set aside whole weekends for marathon couch time and more. I’m speaking as an English major here, but I’m sure people of all majors can commiserate. Let us face that unknown, end-of-semester grade point average together. In the meantime, here’s some advice for handling the load:

Keep your plans tentative: Chances are, homework will rear its ugly head at the worst possible time, and you will have to drop your most cherished plans to do it. To keep this from putting stress on your relationships, let your friends know beforehand that there will always be the chance you will have to make use of that rain check.

When I was in high school, my mother always told me it was OK to lie in situations like these. But why should you have to do that? If you’re caught off guard by homework, there is absolutely no reason why you can’t just say, “I wish I could, but I have homework I need to do tonight.” Where’s the shame in being completely honest?

Learn to say “no.” Even the most faithful of vegetarians gets an occasional craving for the red stuff. Make sure to let your friends know that even though they are important to you, school is important, too, and requires the utmost attention you can provide.

Just like the career you’re planning for, when it comes to friendship, it is all about who you know. If those you know care about you and what you want to accomplish, telling them you have to give up a night of beer-drinking in order to finish a paper should not be a problem.

This doesn’t mean that you should exclude yourself completely from the good times that being with good friends can provide, but you also can only spread yourself so thin. Saying “yes” when you would rather say “no” only adds to the stress.

Organize your time. The fresh onslaught of homework that comes with the acceleration of the semester toward its end may leave you with an overwhelming sense of bewilderment. You may know what you have to do but don’t know quite exactly how to go about doing it. This takes some planning.

Put what you have to do in order of importance, but don’t overwhelm yourself even more by giving yourself too much to do in too little time. Some people find it easier doing the hard things first, while others prefer to save them for last. Set reasonable limits for yourself. No one can write (at least successfully) two research papers in one night. You’ve got to sleep, too.

And remember: Thanksgiving, even in all its abundance and cornucopic, turkey-and-gravy glory, is only a tease.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.