College is stressful. That is something I’ll be blunt about. Putting the partying, organizations, and your social life aside—the workload for most college students is pretty heavy. I guess that’s why they say college isn’t for anyone. Now that I’m in my fourth year of schooling, I’ve learned some pretty great ways to deal with stress while I’m far away from home, and a lot of the time, far away from comfort. Most of the ways I deal with stress are pretty common, but a lot of them actually work. I find myself taking little stress relief breaks when I’m feeling particularly overwhelmed and it makes doing my school work that much easier. Ten of my favorite stress relief techniques are easily attainable, and a lot of the time, they’re free! What’s better than free s#%^ in college, right?

1. Music.
Music for me is a must while I’m doing any form of school work. Depending on what the assignment is, my music varies. For instance, if I’m working close to a deadline and I know that I shouldn’t be focusing on what’s playing, chances are I’m listening to something classical. But, if I’m not necessarily in a rush, I can go from listening to hardcore rap to any type of foreign music. Find your preference and usually homework and studying goes by a little bit easier. And if you’re just overall stressed and can’t focus on your homework, take a 10-minute music break. Listen to your favorite songs and pump yourself back up.

2. Candles.
I find that any time I’m feeling stressed, I want my room to be my happy place. When I find myself in a stressful period in my life, I light as many candles as I can and just relax while the light reflects off of my walls. I give myself time to lie down and just have some down time to myself.

3. Stress Relief Lotion.
I’m not someone who really believes that any of the “stress relief” stuff works, however, when I find myself needing a little extra boost—and something that’s not too expensive. I know that Bath and Body sells a really good stress relieving lotion. I find myself applying it before class, while studying, and pretty much any time I want. And even if it doesn’t actually work, at least it smells good.

4. Napping.
You'd think that this was the worst thing to do if you were feeling stressed, but I've found that it's really not. It might actually be my favorite stress relief tip. Sometimes when things get way too overwhelming, and I know that I’m going to be stuck inside my head and actually not accomplishing anything, I find it easier just to nap it out for a little while. If I know I have a lot to do, I’ll make sure the nap is only about 30-45 minutes and then I’ll get up and finish whatever I was working on.

5. Aromatherapy/Essential Oils.
I haven’t used any aromatherapy/essential oils, but I have a lot of friends that have and they’re crazy about it. You can find any of these pretty much anywhere. Just google essential oils and you’re bound to find something that looks interesting and fits what you're looking for.

6. Taking a Walk.
Sometimes I get myself into really stressful situations. Typically, I wait until the last minute to do a huge project or study for an exam. I know that I should just focus on the task at hand, however, I find it extremely hard to do when I’m overwhelmed about whatever it is. Sometimes I like to remove myself from the situation—so my desk, the library, or wherever I’m at, and I’ll just take a walk. It doesn’t matter if the walk is around the block or even just to the bathroom, but when I remove myself from a situation and come back with a clearer mind, I find that it is much easier to focus on what’s important and finish the work I started.

7. Calling Someone.
My go-to person to call when I’m feeling stressed out is my mom. She always knows what to say to make me feel better and she usually calms me down. My mom is my reminder that I need to get everything done, especially because I want to make her proud. When I’m extremely overwhelmed and stressed about school, she always knows the right words to say to get me to breathe and remember that it’s not the end of the world. So, shout out to you, Mom! You make my life a little less stressful and I will always appreciate hearing your voice to calm me down.

8. Working Out.
Sometimes removing yourself completely from a situation is the best idea to overcome stress. Working out is a great way to work through your stress and it essentially makes your body healthier in the process.

9. Shop a Little Bit.
If money is what you’re stressed about, this might not be the best tip for you. However, if it’s not, take a break from your busy day and just buy yourself something new. It doesn’t have to be anything big or expensive, but take the time to focus on you and, if you’ve worked hard enough, think of it as a reward for all the work you’ve put into your stressful life. I know for me, when I get paid from work and I feel like I’ve had a stressful week, I like to buy myself just a little something to look forward to. Maybe that’s something that can help you rid yourself of a little stress and make you look forward to checking your mailbox, too.

10. Cry it Out.
Crying is not the worst thing in the world. Honestly, when I’m feeling stressed, a lot of the times I find myself in tears because of the amount of work that I have to do and I can never seem to find enough time in the day to complete any of it. Let it out. Cry it out. Sometimes the tears make you feel a lot better and truthfully, once you let it out, chances are you’ll feel a little less stressed and you won’t feel like you’re on the verge of a mental breakdown.

These 10 tips are just a few of the things that help me feel better when I’m feeling stressed and overwhelmed, especially when it comes time to mid-terms and finals week. Most of these tips work for me, but everyone is different. Find what’s going to help you out in your time of need, and just try to work through the stress of everyday and college living. You’ll get through it.