At the beginning of a new semester of college it is easy get stressed out at the simplest of things, especially as a freshmen or a senior preparing to enter a new phase of their life.

Freshmen are learning how to live on their own for the first time while also juggling the intensity of college course work, while Seniors are beginning the last year of college (for some) and figuring out what’s the next step in their life after graduating.

1. Become Organized

Organization is definitely key when it comes to stopping stress from the start. You would be surprised how improved your life would be when you take the time to organize not only your room, but your backpack as well. Start preparing for things a day in advance so when the time actually comes, you are already prepared and ready to go.

2. Color

Go to the local store and pick up a coloring book. Coloring has been proven to release stress and prevent you from beginning to stress in the first place. Take time outside of your day to color a page after completing your homework.

3. Stop Procrastinating

Procrastination is an easy way to quickly become stressed because before you know it, you will become so stressed thinking about a fast approaching deadline. Completing your homework days in advance is an easy way to prevent a lot of that stress. It also gives you a chance and time to have someone else look over your work and get a second opinion so that you revise it before your final submission.

4. Make Healthier Eating Choices

The food that you give your body definitely has a great effect on how your emotions are throughout the day. So sometimes choosing a side of veggies in the café instead of that pepperoni slice of pizza will definitely help you to cope with stress better or even not to stress at all. However, let’s be honest, you will need that pizza sometimes to comfort you through the many stress levels you experience when enrolled in college and/or work.

5. Stop Spreading Yourself Thin

If you know you already are a person who is involved in a lot of clubs, don’t join more clubs! Save time to spread yourself at a healthy pace among multiple clubs that you are already involved in. In other words, put your reserved effort into your homework, classes and clubs instead of looking to fill that empty space by doing other things.

6. Sleep

Who doesn’t enjoy sleep? Lack of sleep is an easy way to get yourself stressed out. Plan your day so that by the end of the night you can go to bed when you get sleepy instead of staying up struggling to complete homework for the next day. It is also important to take naps whenever you can. When you don’t get enough sleep, naps are an easy way to catch up on sleep you didn’t get the night before.

7. HAVE FUN!

Don’t forget to take breaks. As much time as you put into working hard you have to put in the same-- if not more-- effort in relaxing. Reward yourself with study breaks, and if you finish your homework for the week/upcoming weekend go out with your friends and have a guy’s/girl’s night.