It’s that time of year again when you have to submit those college applications (woohoo!). I am a frantic, stressed-out, anxious mess, so if you are anything like me, here are some tips to stay focused, relaxed, and positive as you approach the home stretch.

1. Organization is key

Regardless of the amount of schools you’re applying to, you probably have a lot of information to keep track of. Get every single bit of it out of your head and on paper. Creating a chart of all of my school's, deadlines, requirements, and writing supplements definitely helped me.

2. Don’t be scared to ask for help

There are plenty of resources around you and should definitely utilize them. Hopefully you have a lot of adults around to support you, but if not, there are a lot of other people that can give really great advice. Your guidance and school counselors are a great resource, they are supportive and super helpful!

3. Lean on family & friends

When your stress levels are increasing, let your support system do just that: support you. Being around friends and family can help maintain a positive outlook. One of the best ways to relieve stress is to talk about what you’re going through.

4. Stay positive

A big part of managing stress is making a conscious decision to not let it get the best of you. Each morning when you wake up, take a moment to think of everything you are grateful for.

Don’t focus and stress about everything that you need to get done that day. Keeping a positive attitude can do you wonders in this overwhelming process.The more you shift your thoughts toward gratitude, the better your mood will be and this can last for the entire day.

Even before going to bed, try to think of three positive things that happened that day. It’ll help to get your mind off of things that you are worried about. I always had negative thoughts about the whole application process and one thing that I can tell you is that it did not make anything easier, only more difficult.

College is but a single step in a long journey ahead of you — regardless of where you go, if you work hard and keep an open mind, you’ll turn out just fine. So take a deep breath and just do your best!

5. Take care of yourself

It is crucial to pay attention to physical health. It may feel like you have no time to do anything because your life is consumed by school and college applications, you need to give yourself a break. Make sure you get a healthy amount of sleep. Eat well and drink lots of water. Don’t deprive yourself of a social life because “you are too busy.” Exercise and find ways to destress.