College will probably encompass some of the best years of our lives, yes, but they are also some of the most stressful for us thus far. High school breezed by, a lot of us didn't try very hard, and as much as they said they were preparing us for college, they weren't. It hit us straight in the face with no mercy. We're stressed, and the levels of stress can vary between majors. I won't name any names, but we know that some are definitely higher on the spectrum than others. Regardless, we could all use a breather at some point, so here are some easy ways to keep your stress to a minimum.

1. Get a planner

Coordinate said planner with your calendar and keep it up to date. Knowing what has to be done and when will keep you from that late night meltdown when you forget about a paper or assignment. A sense of control over your schedule will help you a lot.

2. Learn your limits

Some people can sit in the library and study for six hours straight, some can't. Trying to force yourself to be that marathon studier will only frustrate you and make it harder for you to focus on what you need to get done. You'll get distracted faster, and lose track of what you originally needed to do. Breaks are important.

3. Laugh a lot

Being miserable will always just make things worse. Finding something to laugh at every day will keep your spirits up and help you relax a little bit. Even if that one thing you laugh at is yourself, it counts. If you do something stupid, don't get mad about it, laugh it off and go on with the day. Find friends that lift you up and give you that sense of ease.

4. Get rid of tense people

A bad group of friends can weigh you down fast. There's enough to worry about as is without being paranoid that one friend told another something they shouldn't have, or something else stupid and petty like that. A drama-filled gang is going to stress you out more, and you don't need that kinda thing in your life. Trust me, good friends will get you a long, long way in college.

5. Say goodbye to coffee 

Caffeine and other stimulants can elevate the stress response in your body. It may seem like a good idea to down four cups of coffee at night or to chug a few mountain dews, but you're really worsening your situation by doing that. You might be awake, but your body will be working against you.

6. Get some sleep

Everyone knows we're supposed to sleep a lot, and everyone ignores it when they're told. Well, stop. I myself am guilty of this as well, but I also know how much this takes a toll on me. Being tired and cranky just makes me more stressed out, because every time I try to do work my eyes keep trying to shut and go to sleep. Take a nap, go to bed at a decent hour, take another nap. Just make sure you're letting your body rest (and reading note cards in bed doesn't count).

7. Play with some animals 

If you don't love animals something is kinda wrong with you. If you have an awesome college (like I do) look out for opportunities on campus to alleviate stress through some good ol' puppy petting. A lot of campuses will bring in therapy dogs for students to spend time with to relax. If you don't have that opportunity, check out your local animal shelter, most times those animals would really appreciate some lovin', and it can count for volunteer service.

8. Let yourself have fun

Sure, you have two exams next week and a paper due and a million other things, but as I said before, breaks are important. Put down your books for a little while and watch a couple episodes of your show on Netflix, or play a game, or just lay around like a vegetable. It doesn't matter what you do, but give yourself some time to do something you consider fun so you're not wearing yourself down.

Everyone copes with stress in their own way, maybe you internalize your stress, while I cry on the phone to my mom that I'm going to have to drop out and be a stripper. Whether you're like me, the internalizer, or somewhere in between, hopefully these tips can help you relax just a little.