It’s that time of the year again — Spring Break.

With another edition of the week long vacation for students comes the need for another extraneous list of tips to keep your vacation worry-free. Your mom will tell you to not talk to strangers, but we’re sharing some practical advice to keep you having fun and keeping your cool.

1. Leave the Vera Bradley at home

Okay, let’s be honest, this style is old. Not only that major factor, but it’s bound to get destroyed thanks to the sea salt from the ocean water along with the shared disrespect for other people’s belongings among the general public. Take a bag you don’t care about getting beaten up, like that cool tote you saw on sale at Target.

2. Sunglasses

For the same reason stated above, your stuff is not safe. For whatever reason, things are more susceptible to be lost and or stolen during Spring Break, and sunglasses are often No. 1 for this atrocity. Take lots of pairs of cheap ones that you wouldn’t mind getting eaten by a shark. You know — the candy-colored ones that are sold by the dozens on Pedestrian Walkway. Bring them all.

3. Take lots of hair products

Those “easy” beach waves Cosmo was raving about in last week’s issue? Yeah, they’re not that easy, and we guarantee that your hair will not come out photo shoot ready if you bear the elements and go au naturale with your regime on your vacation. Though laid-back and bed-head style is making a comeback, knots and tangles are never cute. Short-haired vacationers? You’re not safe either. Whatever you use at home, bring it for the beach.

4. Suntan lotion

Everyone needs it — no one is safe from the sun’s rays. Don’t assume your buddies will have extra, because most likely they’re as careless as you are when it comes to packing. Make sure it’s at least 35 SPF and you apply it at least 30 minutes before hitting the beach. Skin cancer is no joke — protect yourself.

5. Extra money

Everyone tries to budget on Spring Break, but somewhere in between the Happy Hour specials on tequila shots and those cool little bobble-head toads on the pier, you’ve managed to squander all of your cash. This won’t happen though if you bring extra cash. The point is not to bring it so you can have an excuse to spend more, but instead the extra change is good in case of emergencies, like a $100 hospital bill or a strange receipt for $300 worth of banana boat tickets. It happens to the best of us, but that’s no excuse to be a victim on your vacation.

6. Peace of mind

You think you’re a calm person until everything goes wrong and you forget to do everything we’ve advised on this list. Don’t worry, Spring Break won’t last forever. Whatever happens during your stay, understand that certain small setbacks happen for a reason, and there’s no reason to lose your cool over a petty loss. Let it go and learn for next time.

— Victoria Wright is a senior in journalism and electronic media. She can be reached at [email protected].