I have found that even though most consider Fall to be the busiest time of the year, March can also be kind of crazy. College students are all on different schedules now: some are excited to embark on their spring break plans that they have been looking forward to for months, while others are dreading upcoming midterms, papers, etc. As a second semester freshman, I realized that college is no longer a cakewalk, so I have some tips to help all of you deal with stress like I have.

1. Exercise regularly.

This is a substitution for sitting around and eating a lot of junk food. While exercising can be tiring and time-consuming, it is a good distracter. Your body and mind will thank you.

2. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night.

If you do not get enough sleep, you will be stressing out your body even more.

3. Learn to relax.

Sounds simple enough, right? Everyone has different ways of dealing with this, ranging from listening to calm music to practicing yoga and mediation.

4. Do the things you love.

It's ok to take breaks to allow for hobbies. Learning something new can allow you to take your mind off what is bothering you.

5. Get organized.

Purchase a to-do list and write down everything that you need to accomplish. This way you'll feel accomplished when you check something off of a list, and then you won't have to worry if you are forgetting about anything.

6. Develop a sense of humor.

Everyone needs to be serious at some point, but learn to laugh every once in a while to remove some of the intensity in your life.

7. Have a support system.

Your friends and family should be able to help you through difficult situations because no one should have to handle their stress alone or keep it bottled up inside of them.