During this time of the year, many college students are facing agonizingly long papers and midterms. Most of us are on the edge, as we stay up late studying, put no thought into our appearance, and consume more coffee than is humanly possibly. Managing stress is... stressful. Here are five ways to avoid in those overwhelming moments of life.

1. Don't drink coffee

Many people believe that drinking coffee with help you be attentive and alert. However, caffeine keeps you focused for a couple of hours and leaves you feeling sluggish for the rest of the day. Try eating something healthy that will give you the same amount of energy but no bad feelings after. Apples and tea will help you stay focused during those late night study sessions.

2. Eat healthy

I know it's hard to eat healthy in the first place, but eating burgers and pizza is not beneficial brain food. These foods and many others like them weigh you down and make you feel more tired. Try eating light foods, such as salads, fruits, and vegetables. The difference in the way you feel will be monumental. Another food related tip is to eat many small meals throughout the day, instead of three big meals. This will give you more energy, as your body is consistently absorbing nutrients.

3. Plan your day

This point has be reiterated over and over again by many writers. However, it's an important one. Planning your day will help you keep on the right track and manage your time. However, you must be realistic. If you know that an assignment is going to consume two hours, don't schedule it for an hour. Live in reality. If not, you're going to feel even more overwhelmed than you already are, as assignments pile up.

4. Have self control

Scheduling breaks for your study time is important, as your brain can only retain so much information at one time. However, when you prioritize socialization over your GPA, things become dangerous. We often think that studying with others is productive. However, we must be aware of those friends that distract us and those who keep us focused. (We all have a combination of those friends! And love them all equally)

5. Prepare in advance

This is probably the most important thing act on when managing stress because it actually eliminates stress. For the most of us, we get stressed because we feel unprepared, and thus, we "cram" for tests and papers in a short period of time. However, if we just prepare in advance, it eliminates stress altogether.