It's that time of year again... Every professor you have thinks their class is the only class on your schedule and they wanted you to "have a relaxing break" and they feel they demonstrated that sentiment by assigning you with a 200 page paper and four tests scheduled on the day you return from Thanksgiving break. College is anything but chill, and mental illness in millenials is on the rise. I'm here to tell you that NO--OUR MENTAL ILLNESSES ARE NOT A RESULT OF BEING "SPOILED"....let me say that again for the ignorant 40-year-old man in the back, my mental illness is NOT a result of me being "spoiled," "bratty," "raised without discipline," or any of the usual nonsense. My mental illness is a result of a chemical imbalance in my brain that causes me to think that the 4 papers, 6 finals, and 2 presentations I have been assigned are actually 5,000 papers, 700 life or death moments, and 12 years of torture on a stage for the world to watch. So how, in a society where "finding your chill" is absolutely imperative, can we do just that?

1. Take Some Deep Breaths

Sometimes all you need to bring you back to Earth is some good old fashioned in through your nose, out through your mouth action. If that fails, there is a yoga practice that focuses on three part breathing--it works wonders. You inhale first into your chest, then ribs, then stomach and then exhale stomach, chest, ribs. Do it slowly and in control and you might be able to stop a panic attack in it's tracks.

2. Hit The Gym

If the endorphins released by your exercise don't lighten your mood, then hopefully your bomb-ass playlist and all the eye candy you encounter will.

3. Soak in a Bath or Take a Hot Shower

If you don't need a cold shower after catching all that eye candy at the gym.... you definitely need to bask in the glory of warm water and steam. The glass of wine is optional, but "treating yoself" is not. College is hard, life is hard, you deserve (and desperately need) a break.

4. Get You Some Sweets

Okay, so no I'm not encouraging you to binge to the point that you feel overly full and then start to feel all guilty and gross, BUT a lot can be said for indulging in your favorite comfort food during times of need.

5. Make a List

So at first, making a list is incredibly stressful and overwhelming, but if you make it in order of priority and start with the top, you will feel SO good about yourself as you cross things of!

So go, find your chill and TRY to relax. You will not be defined by your grades this semester, or any semester and you can do this! And if you don't think you deserve these things, well, Ryan Gosling says otherwise so go and get you some R&R.