College is hard. Especially now, with you-know-what week coming up at the end of December. This can lead to depression and can exacerbate depression in those who already have it. Here are some tips to combat those feelings and make it to Spring semester with your psyche intact.

Note: while there's certainly a difference between a depressive disorder and the regular depression many people go through, if you're having symptoms of either, it's good to seek help. It's also important to note that many people (more than 3 million in the US each year) struggle with depression. You are not alone, you're not faking it, it important, it should be acknowledged, and you can get better.

1. Give yourself a break.

Sometimes it can feel like you have a thousand things to do and about fifteen minutes to do them, and falling behind can seem fatal. It really isn't. You will exhaust yourself if you don't give your body and mind time to recharge. You will be so much better off if you take the five-minute break, have the 30-minute nap, or watch the two-hour movie with your friends, and then get back to work.

2. Relax. Literally.

Unclench your jaw. Fix your posture. Relax your shoulders. Unfurrow your eyebrows (this one sounds weird, and you might not notice you're doing it, but it will give you a headache after a while). Really. Relax. If your body is uncomfortable, you aren't going to feel like doing anything, you're just going to feel bad.

3. Eat something.

If you haven't eaten, go eat. Not eating will make you tired, dizzy, give you a headache, and distract you until you do. It will have an effect on your mental health.

4. Drink some water.

I know, everyone says this, but I swear it helps. You don't have to drink a gallon a day, but I've found that drinking water in the morning before I do anything else and then periodically throughout the day keeps me focused. Not drinking water can make you feel the same as not eating.

5. Get something done.

Pick the smallest, easiest, most convenient thing that you have on your to-do list, and get it done. The sense of accomplishment will help carry you through the rest of the list. If your list of tasks seems overwhelming, assign yourself a new one - like making yourself a meal, or tidying up your desk. If the task is simple enough to get done right away, you'll still have accomplished something. That will motivate you to get more things done, and in turn, you'll be less stressed once you've started chipping away at the bulk of your workload.

6. Stand up.

Have you been laying in bed on your laptop all day and somehow you're still on page one of your essay? Have you been sitting at your desk for three hours and haven't actually done any studying? Stand up. Stretch. Go get some water, or a snack, or just pace for a minute. Everyone gets restless after being still for too long. Or the brain fog sets in and suddenly you're staring into space, contemplating whether you should just drop out. Nope. You should just stand up.

7. Talk to someone who feels the same way you do.

Talk to your classmate, or your friend, or your sibling - someone in the same position as you. Whether it's the stress that's getting you down or boredom, or even if you aren't quite sure why you've been feeling depressed, talk to someone who can relate. Even if neither of you has solutions for the way you're feeling, it's important to know that you are not alone. And you aren't, I promise.

You got this! And good luck on the dreaded finals!