Fall can be a beautiful time of the year filled with boots, sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes and all the alluring colors of the leaves. However, college makes this season not so enjoyable as it could be. The beginning of Fall correlates with the start of mid-terms. 

Mid-terms can be a stressful part of first semester and they keep students locked in libraries or other studious places for hours on ends. While this studying occurs, the gorgeous weather outside waits to be appreciated. Fall should be a time of enjoyment and pleasure, but instead it is filled with worries and stress. 

It seems that even when mid-terms are done for each class, we are prepping for the the following set of tests. This vicious cycle does not end, causing more and more built on stress. College is supposed to help students learn, but when do students get to enjoy the freedom? 

Some students have to study two weeks in advance for their mid-terms. This means two weeks of straight studying in addition to homework from other classes. What can be changed to handle the stresses of college? Here are some tips to dealing with the unwanted stress during the Fall season:

Utilize time management
Over and over again students are reminded to have good time management skills. If students are organized, time management should not be a problem. Keeping a schedule of when to study and when to do homework makes managing time a lot easier.

Get rest
Staying up until 2 a.m. or even 3 a.m. to study or get homework done is not healthy for the mind or the body. Yes, the weather outside is perfect to wander around and discover new parts of campus, but utilize the hours of the daytime. Make it a goal to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep.

Spend time with tutors or professors
It is always easier to learn something when someone is there to explain it. Spending time at office hours or with tutors is very beneficial when attempting to understand a subject, which can later save time when trying to learn a different subject area. There are other students on campus who want to help you succeed in a variety of majors. Take advantage of this help, because this type of assistance will not always be granted.

Have objectives
Always keep goals in mind. Rather these goals be short-term or long-term, keep a timeline of what needs to be accomplished and when. Having objectives goes along with utilizing time management. Both utilize strong organizational skills to relieve stress.

Take breaks
It is important to read and finish homework and studying, but it is also important to take breaks. Working and focusing too much can be detrimental to obtaining the information read and learned. A good break could be a workout session, a walk on the quad, a quick walk to Starbucks for that Pumpkin Spice Latte, or whatever will make studying easier.

There are many other ways that students reduce stress in their lives. Built up stress can either create a positive outcome or a negative outcome, such as: forcing students to work harder (positive) or causing a student to shut down from built up stress (negative). Use these tips if stress has a negative affect, and hopefully, fall can be stress-free.