As someone who has barely survived the past few weeks, I figured it would be a waste if I kept the wisdom I have learned to myself. So let’s hop right to it.

1. Eat Your Feelings

It’s completely unhealthy, but let’s be real. When your paper is two days late and you have two tests tomorrow, nothing tastes better than the reminder that life is short and probably getting shorter with every bite. See McDonald’s, Taco Bell, or Waffle House for inspiration.

2. Depression Naps

Nothing makes the day pass by faster than a nice little 2-3 hour nap situated between your classes. If that’s too long, at least try for 20 minutes. In those seconds of complete delirium after waking up, you forget everything. Sometimes it completely improves your day.

3. Retail Therapy

There’s nothing like buying yourself things you’ve convinced yourself you deserve, when you know good and damn well you don’t. It can be anything. A new planner (that you won’t use). Some socks. A book (shoutout thriftbooks!). A new dog. A one-way plane ticket. Whatever your heart desires (as long as it doesn’t break your bank).

4. Soundtrack It

Try to chronicle your emotional progression by adding songs to a playlist that coincide with how you feel. It won’t really help you get anything done, but listening is cool because later you can play it and reflect on your rough time like it was a movie.

5. Accept the L

The only way to find peace is to accept that you will be receiving Ls and there is nothing you can do about it. It takes the pressure off of staring at pages of notes and wondering how you managed to ‘learn’ so much in such a short time. And when you take the time to figure out just how bad of an L you can take before your GPA really feels it, you’ll either feel better knowing that the L won’t be that bad or you’ll feel better knowing that you’ll get a degree regardless.

6. Leave

The duration is optional, but sometimes it really does the soul good to just leave campus. Remember that there is a whole world out there and people that don’t suffer through school every day and they still exist. Remember that there are strippers that make more money than tuition costs in one semester. Remember that if you were REALLY about that life, that could be you. (Remember that you aren’t and come back refreshed.)

7. Procrastination

Seriously, sometimes taking that step away increases your focus and productivity when it comes time to do The Thing. Your brain needs time to rest and heal, too. Maybe take that time to work out. Or make a workout schedule. Or a weekly meal plan. Or schedule. If you’re still being productive, are you really procrastinating?

I hope that these tips have helped you to realize that you shouldn’t take advice from people online. If your hell week has gotten bad enough for you to need coping mechanisms, please see someone or get in touch with your teachers or school counselors or campus helpline to actually recieve help. Mental health on college campuses is really important and people can’t help you if they aren’t aware it’s necessary (feel free to still use the tips, though)