We’ve all experienced various levels of stress. Some stress is good, it helps motivate you, but the stress that we’re all most familiar with is the kind that makes us feel like we are drowning in our own responsibilities. Between school work, trying to have a social life, possibly holding a job, and all the other factors that go into being a functioning human being, sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get all you need done. When it seems like there aren’t enough hours in the day, that’s where the stress kicks in. Not to say I never get stressed because I definitely do, but I have figured out some tricks to reduce stress immensely.

1. Make a list

You may think I’m kidding but I couldn’t be any more serious. This may seem old fashioned but it could not be any more helpful. Instead of being in class and having random ‘to-dos’ pop into your head, a list lets you lay out what you have to get done. When you know what you have to do, you immediately feel more in command of your schedule. Not only does it help de-jumble your thoughts but there is nothing more rewarding than being able to cross off the tasks you’ve completed.

2. Turn off your phone

Yes, this may sound hard, but trust me. Turning off your phone illuminates your biggest distraction. We would all rather be FaceTiming our friends or Snapchatting that doing whatever task is sitting on your shoulders, but at the end of the day, you do have to get it done. By turning off your phone, you are allowing yourself to get the task done in a lesser amount of time because you are less distracted. Your phone will still be there when your work is done so why not get it done faster so you spend more time stressing.

3. Take a nap

Some people may think this would be counterproductive, but I have found it to be quite helpful. If you end up sleeping for six hours, you aren’t doing yourself any favors, but if you take an hour nap, allow yourself to breathe, relax and rest, the odds are very high that when you wake up you will feel better and be more motivated to get whatever you need to done.

4. Call someone you haven’t talked to in a while

Again, this may seem like it’s not helpful because you aren’t working on anything; but, you may think you’re stressing out about an assignment when really you have something going on subconsciously that you need to get off your chest. Sometimes you need to distract yourself from your responsibilities and take a break. By catching up with a relative or friend that you haven’t talked to in a while, you not only will be happy you got to check in with them, but they may have some ideas about your essay, advice to share, or just make you laugh. It may not be the fastest way to get your work done, but it will make you feel better, and when you feel better, you work better!