Now that the holiday decorations are being taken down until next year, school is back in session. To the dismay of students, midterm exams are also rapidly approaching.

The midterm exams will be Jan. 17 through 22. The school will be closed Jan. 21.

Midterms are a stressful time for everyone, students and teachers alike. It is important to balance priorities during the exam, to ensure quality results while maintaining sanity.

The most vital part to surviving midterm exams is time management, especially if you are an actively involved student with an already busy schedule. Keep a calendar on hand and plan out the week accordingly with time to study, time for sports, other activities and of course sleep.

It may be difficult sticking to a set schedule but providing structure to your studying will be beneficial in the end, so hang in there.

When it comes to actually sitting down and studying, here are a few tips. Take a lot of breaks. I do suggest a productive break however, like a brisk evening walk or a run on the treadmill, rather than wearing you down by sitting on the couch drooling over the television. Keep your body as active as your mind and it will help relieve the stress of big exams.

It sounds cliché, but never be afraid to ask the teacher for help. Even if it means staying after school or going in during lunch for extra help, it will be worth it in the long run. Many departments at Emmaus High School offer extra help with student tutors during exam times, which have also proved to help students prepare for big tests.

Another major part of being successful on midterm exams is keeping your priorities straight. The mall will still be there after the tests are over, and you can always hang out with your friends another day. Use your valuable time to focus.

Strategy is a major component as well. Be sure to study for your weakest subjects the most and spend less time on subjects you feel more comfortable in. Take advantage of every opportunity for review packets and afterschool study groups. Even if the review packets are optional, complete them anyway. Every little bit of information you can retain will be helpful come exam time.

Parents can also help their children during this stressful time, for example, by limiting home responsibilities. The last thing a high school student wants to worry about is when they should get their chores done when they have five or six exams to study for.

Parents, remember to be as understanding as possible, especially if your child gives you what most parents call "lip." Chances are, it's the stress talking.

Dress comfortably, whatever comfortably may mean. Also, dress in layers. Room temperatures tend to fluxuate and being freezing cold in your room may affect your focus.

This next tip may seem obvious, but many teenagers tend to neglect this. Get plenty of sleep. It's tempting to stay up late on social media sites, but it can wait a week.

And always remember it's just one test. What's the worst that can happen if you do poorly? Just relax and focus and the midterm exams will be a lot less daunting.