When it’s finally time to leave the nest and begin your bright albeit challenging future as a college student, you may be feeling overwhelmed with new responsibilities, people, and general lifestyle. The possibilities are endless right now: new classes, new surroundings, and of course, new temptations.

Navigating school, college life, and homework can certainly be difficult. Luckily, in this tech-thriving era, there are plenty of tools to utilize in order to make the transition into freshman year just a little bit easier.

The Life of the Party: Homework!

It’s no surprise that productivity is likely going to be your biggest challenge in school. Homework can often end up low on your to-do list. Considering all the new and exciting events and people, it’s understandable. However, completing your homework on time is going to be vital during the next four years. Developing effective study habits now will help make the rest of your college career a whole lot easier.

There are a ton of apps that help with productivity (because you aren’t the first nor the last person to procrastinate). It might take some trial and error but finding an app that suits your work style can make life just a little bit easier — your future grades will thank you. For example, the Pomodoro technique, aka the Tomato Timer app, follows a pretty simple structure: set a timer for 25 minutes and use that time to work completely distracted free. Then set another timer, this time for 5 minutes and use that time to do whatever you want! You can adjust the exact time limits — 80 percent used for work and 20 percent for fun, for example. It’s simple and effective!

You might also try utilizing a “personal assistant” to keep you organized and focused. There are several apps designed to help keep you on top of your responsibilities. They can help make sure you don’t forget about that quiz in psychology or when your internet bill is due. Life Storage lists several great apps worth utilizing — from ones that’ll help you with your move-in checklistto ones that’ll remind you of your study group meetup. However, you stay organized, keeping up with your assignments, tests, essays, and more is key to a successful college career. Let technology help with that.

Budgeting Your $$$

Another tricky skill to master during your freshman year of college is budgeting. If you take out student loans, you’ll be basically on a fixed income for the next while (save for those times Mom and Dad slip you an extra 20 bucks). With that in mind, being conscious of your spending habits will be key in preventing that infamous ramen diet.

Take the time to familiarize yourself with some handy apps and other budgeting methods early on. Whether you use the money pie methodor try a popular app like Mint or Wally, conquering your finances will be made a lot easier if you take advantages of today’s technology. Just be sure to set realistic money goals for yourself and to leave someroom for fun.

Apps That Help Keep You Healthy

Another way technology can aid you in your freshman journey is with your health! Wearable technology is making it a lot easier for people to track and monitor their lifestyle. According to Arizona State University, “The healthcare industry as a whole is undergoing seismic changes and technology is a key driver … A wide variety of wellness apps and mobile health monitors are empowering individuals to monitor and analyze key health indicators like heart rate and activity and stress levels.”

This is especially important for young adults. With college comes higher stress levels, less sleep, and oftentimes a poor diet. Using an app or tracker can be a simple way to monitor your health, diet, and make sure you’re keeping up with your body’s needs.

Make Friends With Mr. Sandman

Speaking of your body’s needs, sleep is going become quite the tricky adventure during college. It’s going to be tempting to slip into an odd sleep routine, such as, going to bed at 3 a.m. and waking up sometime around noon (if not later). This can spell trouble for your attendance. It becomes easier and easier to skip those morning classes if you find yourself repeatedly staying up late. While a late night a couple times a week won’t do you much harm, developing a good sleep schedule during the week will save you a lot of awkward conversations with your professors.

The blue light from our electronics have been shown to interfere with our sleep cycle. So, while it may feel relaxing to scroll through your social media feeds before bed, that might be one of the reasons you find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. Trying a blue light filter on your phone or using a bedtime reminder app can help create a practical and helpful sleep routine. As experts at Nectar Sleep suggest, “It’s not just enough to establish a consistent bedtime. It’s also super important to find the routine that’s right for you …  It really doesn’t matter what the routine is, just as long as you’re consistent.” This means that while it might take a few tries to find the best sleep routine for you, when you do find it, sticking to it will the best thing for your body, mind, and grades.

This time in your life won’t last forever, but the useful, productive habits you develop now will stick with you long after freshman year. Of course it’s equally important to also enjoy yourself, your new friends, and new experiences. Use this time to discover some news things about yourself and work hard to make the most out the next four years. Good luck!