As the semester picks up, college students become swamped with the influx of projects, assignments, deadlines, and exams. The stress slowly starts taking over the workaholics who begin to lose sight of what’s truly important in the long-run: to stay happy and healthy.

Here are some tips on how to combat stress:

1. Do yoga. Yoga is a perfect de-stressor whether it is done along with vigorous exercise or it is done right in your bedroom after a long, hard day of classes. Make time in your hectic schedule to take a moment to try a Power Vinyasa class at the fitness center. A personal favorite pose is the Dead Man’s pose (Savasana), in which everyone lies on their backs and achieves a state of total relaxation through calming breaths. If you’re not into the gym atmosphere, you could also purchase your own yoga mat and practice yoga alone without any distractions or worries.

2. Listen to music. Listening to music helps distract you from your troubles throughout the day. Throw on some pajamas, put on your headphones, and let the music guide you through the night. Or even better, turn the music up and add a little spontaneity to your life by having a dance party with friends. No matter what kind of music you listen to, there’s nothing better than to wind down and devote some time to yourself.

3. Keep a journal. Writing helps people process the events of the day. Take a moment to reflect on your feelings and your goals. Remember that life is a learning process and the key to this journal is to remind yourself about what makes you happy and the things that you are grateful for.

4. Take care of yourself. And I don’t just mean in terms of emotional happiness. With all of the stress and obstacles college students face, we often forget to take care of ourselves even in the most basic sense— being clean and maintaining proper hygiene, eating regularly and maintaining a healthy diet, and making sure you get enough sleep.

5. Embrace your creative side. Do you have a specific hobby that you’ve been trying to focus on but have not found time in your crazy schedule yet? Is there something that you’ve been dying to do but have been afraid of doing? Be bold and dig deep within yourself to explore your passions. Now is the right time to discover who you truly are and what you love. Learn to take a risk for your own well-being. Join a sorority or club that you enjoy, start a blog, or sing in your school’s a cappella group. You never know what you’re missing out on unless you try, so take advantage of your campus resources!

These are just some tips on how to be both successful and happy in college. As you get so absorbed in your work and social lives, remember to take a step back and care for yourself. You are your own priority. Even if you feel yourself losing control, take that as an opportunity to gain back control and motivate yourself to become a better individual ready to tackle any challenge that may come your way in the real world!