With midterms approaching, we can’t help but feel this impending cloud of stress hover over us. It often seems beyond our powers to not get overwhelmed, but I am here to tell you that the stress won’t last forever and good will come of it.

However, if you feel that your brain might explode, here are five ways to reduce stress:

1. Get enough sleep. After ruining our sleep cycles over the summer, going to sleep at 3 or 4 in the morning seems tempting, and sometimes you don’t notice the hours slipping away. But if you have an 8 a.m. class in the morning, it’s in your best interest to get more than a few hours of sleep. Not getting enough sleep truly increases how we experience the stressors of the day, and if you get at least 7 hours of sleep one or two days a week, it will make a significant difference.

2. Improve your eating habits. Having a diet that consists of pizza and chips from the vending machine may also seem tempting, but it actually lowers your threshold for stress. Consuming short-term comfort food and going for a sugar high will actually make you feel worse. That chocolate bar, among other delights, is not your best friend if you’re trying to ease your stress. Although easier said than done, try to include more fruits, veggies, and whole grains in your diet.

3. Exercise. If you’re among those who don’t go to the gym, or someone who just cancelled their gym membership like me, exercising daily is often not a priority. However, as little as 20 minutes of physical activity can reduce stress levels. Whether it be simply walking, or going for a jog, exercising is for your benefit. Although moving around may be the last thing you want to do when you’re stressed, any type of exercise will help and perhaps you can try to do something you enjoy.

4. Avoid unnatural energy boosters. It has become extremely common in college to be a coffee addict, and every once in a while I feel the need to have coffee. Although it may help you stay awake for an all-night study session, artificial stimulants like caffeine or prescription meds will not do you any good in the long run. Putting off your body’s need to sleep will ultimately result in an energy crash, and you become more defenseless to stress.

5. Don’t give up your passions. Your schedule might be overloaded with lectures and tons of homework, but try to find at least an hour each day to pursue a hobby or other activity that you enjoy. Find something that brings you peace and serenity, and ultimately puts your mind at ease. 

College can put a lot of pressure on us, and some of us get more stressed out than others. Using one, if not all, of these strategies will help you reduce stress and give you a push in the right direction. College won’t feel like a breeze, but I can confidently say it won’t be as overwhelming.