College life is not easy. With the amount of work that needs to be done, things can get out of hand sometimes, whether you’re juggling school and a relationship, school, and work, or school and a family. Everyone has been at a point in their lives where they feel like they can conquer the world, and other times it feels like the world is taken over you.

Next thing you know, the anxiety begins to kick in. Work is piling up and nothing seems to be making much sense. Anxiety is a big deal and can have a negative impact on a person’s life. Things are not the same, you’re feeling sad and nervous and the pressure is on. Everything that once was in the grasp of your hand is now falling apart and full of confusion. We’ve all been there, but as midterms come creeping in and you’re having second thoughts about that boy down the hall in your floor, here are some tips to help keep some sanity.

1. Stop whatever you are doing

As a college student, we are bombarded with an infinite pile of work which may never end. This feeling of never finishing any of the assignments given can bring a great amount stress on a person. There is rarely time to sit down and take a moment to relax when all you have on your mind is the two papers due by the end of the week and a midterm tomorrow. It can be hard and it can be stressful but it is important to stop whatever you are doing and take a break.

No work will get done properly and efficiently if you are thinking about how stressed you are and how you cannot make it to the end of the quarter. Taking a break allows for a reboot and some time to relax the mind from all the studying you have been doing.

2. Just breath for a bit

It is best to practice taking deep breaths as you take a break. Breathing is super important when it comes to clearing the mind and relaxing. Close your eyes and breath, focus on the the air going in and out your nostrils. Forget what is bothering you and put your energy into breathing. Doing this will help relax your mind and calm you down after the amount of stress you have endured.

3. Take a moment to acknowledge what is bothering you

Why do you feel the way you do? Once you have relaxed and have managed to regain your chill, ask yourself what is making you feel anxious and stressed. Being able to figure out the problem will allow you to pinpoint what steps need to be taken to solve it. If anything, acknowledging the problem is better than hiding away from it and pretending it does not exist. Sometimes solving the problem cannot be done in a few minutes, but knowing what the problem is can be useful.

4. Get back to work

After pinpointing what has caused the anxious and stressful feeling, it is time to go back to the task you left behind. Whether you solved the problem or not, you have a better understanding as to what is making you feel the way you are. Knowing the reason for your anxiety and stress is better than wondering why you cannot get your work done efficiently. Now that you know what the issue is, it is time to get back to work. The thing is, no one figures out what is giving them a great deal of stress and solves the problem within seconds. It takes time to solve the problem and feel better about what you are doing. At this point, you have relaxed your mind by taking a break and deep breaths. Being able to acknowledge the reason why you feel stressed is a step up. With those realizations, it is time to get back to work, trusting everything will be fine.