Stress, depression, anxiety – these are realities that are all too familiar for college students – and for all age groups. Life is crazy. It gets overwhelming sometimes. We worry about that big test, or our midterm project. We worry about our career and life goals. We worry about money. We worry about our family and friends. We worry about following through with all of our commitments. We worry constantly; about everything.

With our constant worry, and our busy lifestyles, it is easy to become stressed. This stress leads to anxiety or depression in many people. When we are at our lowest, it can become difficult to care about anything anymore. Rarely do we want to put in the effort to care for ourselves. However, caring for ourselves is what we need the most.

It may not completely cure what you are dealing with, but forcing yourself to step away from your commitments, your worries, and your busy schedule and taking time to care for yourself can make an immense difference in your levels of stress, depression and anxiety.

Here are some of my favorite things to do to take care of myself when life gets overwhelming;

1. Take a walk.

There is nothing quite like taking a long walk to clear the mind, and bring a change of perspective. Walk at your own pace, take deep breaths, and focus on the positive things in your life. Bonus points if you can walk outside. Fresh air can do amazing things!

2. Breathe deeply.

When you feel yourself tensing up with stress or anxiety, no matter where you are, no matter what you are doing, pause for a few minutes and focus on taking deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Let your mind go blank if you can. This can help you refocus before the stress builds up to a point where you can no longer control how you react.

3. Do some yoga.

This is a new favorite that I began to experiment with in the last year. The results have been wonderful for me. Not only is it incredible exercise, but it also strengthens your body, forces you to have a time of peace and quiet, and leaves you feeling relaxed and refocused. See if your school offers yoga classes for students, check out a yoga studio, or search the numerous yoga videos that Youtube has to offer. Do not be afraid to try it!

4. Drink your favorite coffee or tea beverage.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am a coffee and tea fanatic. I could drink either one, any style, all day everyday. Coffee and tea beverages can be quite relaxing. Fix your favorite type, and allow yourself to relax while enjoying the rich, wonderful goodness.

5. Read a book.

One of the things I love about good books is that they transport you, almost magically, to a different world. By reading, you can learn about different places, people and events. You can read stories of adventure or splendor. If you are feeling down or stressed, pick up a good book and allow it to transport you away from all of your worries for awhile.

6. Play with a pet.

Playing with a pet is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce stress, depression and anxiety. Cuddling up to a furry cat, or playing fetch with a cheery puppy can offer comfort and a welcome distraction from whatever you may be struggling with. Plus, pets are loyal and loving no matter what you are going through.

7. Talk to your closest friend(s).

Okay, I get it. You are depressed and anxious. The last thing you want to do is talk to people. Hear me out though. Talking to and interacting with the people you are close to can actually help a lot. These people care about you. They want to help. Talk to them about what you are going through, talk to them about anything that is on your mind. You might be amazed at how much better you feel afterwards.

8. Listen to or play music.

William Congreve said, “Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” It is true! Music can ease the pain you are going through, and help calm you down when you are stressed. If you play an instrument, sit down and play it for awhile. If you do not play an instrument, instead, create a playlist of soothing or upbeat music to listen to. Whatever you do, do not allow yourself to listen to sad music, it will only make things worse. Trust me on this one.

9. Cook something yummy.

I love food. I love cooking it, and I love eating it. I have found that when I am stressed or down, it can be very soothing to spend some time in the kitchen. So, go cook yourself a healthy meal, or bake that brownie recipe you found on Pinterest.

10. Journal.

I adore writing. Since I was at least 12 years old, I have kept a fairly consistent journal going. I have found that the times I write in it the most are when I am stressed out or am deeply struggling with something. In phases like that, I struggle to put my thoughts into words – verbally. However, when I write, my thoughts flow freely, and I find myself feeling so much better when I am done. If you have not tried it, I encourage you to pick up a pen and notebook and see what happens. Do not worry about what you are saying. Just write.

I do not know what you are going through, but I do want to encourage you that things will be better. Always remember that. When times get tough, do not neglect taking care of yourself. I have found that it is the simple things that go the farthest in making a difference during difficult times. So, give some of these a try, and see what a difference it can make!