Being a college student is no joke. Between the loads of assignments, internships, part time jobs, and trying to maintain a social life, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Having classes for twelve hours straight on Tuesdays and Thursdays, my internship for eight hours on Monday and Wednesday, and being involved on campus creates an undeniable amount of stress. And although I thoroughly enjoy and am passionate about all these activities, sometimes the stress of it all hits me hard and all I want to do is curl in a ball and take a nap. If you know me, you know very well that I am always stressing about something or another. It may seem impossible to find time to destress, but it is extremely important to give yourself time to relax and let loose whenever you can.

Here are some of my favorite ways to de-stress:

1. Take a Nap

As simple as it sounds, a 10-15 minute nap can truly be life changing. You’d be surprised the amount of times I snuck in a nap in my car between classes or on the train on the way to the city. You wake up more refreshed and alert, and it lowers your chances of dozing off during a lecture.

2. Exercise

Although I am no health guru by any means, exercise is the best method of de stressing for me. It not only destresses me after a long day, but also helps soothe any anger or tension I may have. Personally, I love to let loose and bust some moves in Zumba. It’s like a dance party and a workout combined, and I love to go whenever I find the time.

3. Take Time for Yourself

After a long week of school and work, it’s always a good idea to take one night to relax by yourself. Don’t feel bad turning down plans with friends every once in awhile, it’s totally cool to have a chill night by yourself (or with your pets of course.) Binge watch a show on Netflix, catch up on the TV programs you missed, read a book, or pamper yourself with a soothing spa night!

4. Surround yourself with the Right People

It’s only normal for you to have some disagreements or drama between your friends and family every once and awhile. But don’t be afraid to separate yourself from people who are constantly bringing you down or just giving you bad vibes. Surround yourself with supportive friends and family who you enjoy being around, and you’ll be surprised how much happier you will feel.

5. Stay Hydrated and Remember to Eat

Now you may be thinking, how can someone forget to eat or drink? You’d be surprised how many times I got too carried away studying for a test or finishing an assignment and I forgot to eat or drink for hours at a time. This causes me to become dehydrated, making me feel drowsy and incapable of being productive. Eating snacks and drinking water throughout the day will help you stay alert and focused, no matter what the task may be.

6. Don’t Procrastinate!

Now this is MUCH easier said than done, but is so important to get some work done whenever you can, so you are not panicking about a deadline or becoming overwhelmed with work. Use whatever breaks you have in between classes, or on a job, to study for an upcoming exam or to work on assignments. There is no better way of relieving stress than completing the task that has been weighing heavily on your shoulders. *sigh of relief*

7. Talk About What is Stressing You Out

Usually, you’re not the only one stressing out about something. It’s easy to think you are the only one who has to worry about keeping your grades up for a scholarship, or that you are the only one who forgot about an upcoming deadline. But as soon as you talk to your peers and classmates, you will realize that you are indeed, not alone.

8. Realize Nothing is Perfect

We often stress ourselves out over things that we cannot change. As frustrating as this may be, we have to learn how to let things go. We have to remind ourselves that noone and nothing is perfect, and we cannot expect them to be. Personally, I often feel like a failure when something doesn’t go to plan, or I don’t receive the grade I think I deserve. Don’t put yourself down when something doesn’t go as plan. Once you stop being so unrealistically hard on yourself, you will release so much stress.

9. Laugh!

Laughing will help you relieve so much stress and tension. Take every opportunity to laugh, it truly helps a lot. Whether you laugh at yourself slipping in the commuter parking lot, watching a funny video on Youtube, or even just laughing with friends, laughter is the best medicine. As hard as it may seem at times, you don’t have to take everything so seriously. Let loose and allow yourself to laugh at your own mistakes.

10. Be Proud of Yourself

Sometimes we are so busy and caught up with the everyday stress and drama, and forget to reflect on all the hard work we are doing. Being a college student alone can be stressful at times, and with other commitments and obligations, it can be overwhelming. We are often too hard on ourselves, and compare our accomplishment to others and put ours down. So give yourself a well deserved pat on the back, for all the accomplishments, big or small, because being a college student is no easy task.

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Now remember, as stressful as college may be, it is JUST as rewarding. Push through these stressful years, as they will serve you well throughout your life. Don’t let the stress of college stop you from enjoying it!

As Wiz Khalifia once said, “work hard, play hard.”