As the fall semester progresses, college students increasingly feel more stressed. For those who already struggle with depression or anxiety, that stressed out feeling can be crippling. Here are a few ways to chill out and relax in the midst of this chaos called college.

1. Buy a planner

Keep track of all of your quizzes, tests, and assignments with an agenda. You can purchase some cute ones to fit your taste at Target or Barnes N Nobles. First, record all important dates from your syllabi. Seeing everything all laid out will visually help you remember what you need to do. As time goes on, add in presentations, pop quizzes, and meetings. Plan out your time wisely and reasonably. Leave room to cross off your achievements as you complete them. Don’t double book yourself, and be realistic of the amount of things you can accomplish in a day. Through organizing your time with a planner, you will better understand what you need to do and how to manage your time.

2. Adopt a positive mindset

Though dwelling on the stress may be a go-to mind set, it is not beneficial. Trust me, I know. When all seems to be at loss, don’t give up. Things usually work themselves out at the last minute. This is why it is important to adopt a positive mind set. Even if things don’t work out, it is not the end of the world. Trying to be positive is so difficult in bleak circumstances, however, it can actually be the key to success. Positivity can help your mind problem solve, rather than shut down. Being positive also leads to a higher standard of over-all happiness. After putting positivity to practice over time, it becomes a habit, a really good one.

3. Chew gum

Chewing gum reduces stress subconsciously. It has a similar effect to squeezing a stress ball. Keep your favorite flavor of gum on hand, and whenever you begin to feel stressed, just pop a piece in. Gum also can improve your test results. Try chewing a flavor of gum while studying for an exam. Then, chew the same flavor of gum when actually taking the exam. The trick will trigger your memory, allowing you to recall more from what you studied. If you put in the effort to study, chewing gum can help you get the great results you want.

4.Make Time for Friends

An important part of college is the social interaction. Sure, the reason we are there is to study, but the social aspect holds high on the priority list too. Ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know?” Social connections are going to help you out, not only with school, but in the future, in your career. Many people land jobs right out of college based on the connections they developed during their college years. So, while you’re hiding behind piles of textbooks, remember that social endeavors aren’t the epitome of a good student. It’s okay to go out occasionally.

5. Do Your Best and Forget the Rest

I have to tell you, honestly, this one is the hardest for me. Sometimes, even your best effort won’t be good enough. That fact is so difficult, yet essential, to accept. You will fail, whether it be in college, or later down the road. It will hurt pouring your heart into your work, only to find that your boss or professor doesn’t like it. That’s okay. These are beautiful learning experiences that help you grow tremendously if you allow them too. Let the emotions go. Don’t carry them with you. Learn how to move forward and learn from the past. Learning and moving on will help you grow as a person.

Hopefully, these tips will be beneficial for you. I know they are for me. If you have any other tips that work really great for you, please comment in the section below.