As the second half of this semester looms over all of us, there’s never been a better time to start incorporating some quality de-stressing skills into your weekly routine. While everyone has their own ways to cope with the pressures of college and find their inner zen, this guide will give you a few more tips to try out. 

Exercise (in your preferred form)

I know that I’m certainly not the first person to tell you that exercise can help boost your mood, but there’s a reason that you hear it all the time: it’s true! Endorphins aren’t a work of fiction that the fitness industry is trying to sell you — they exist, and luckily for all of us, there are so many ways to get them flowing. 

You don’t have to immediately transform into a gym rat or sign up for a marathon in order to find the de-stressing benefits of exercise. The Rec offers a variety of weekly classes if you have the time, and there’s always plenty of workout equipment for your use there. Going for a walk in Centennial Park is one of my top recommendations, and you can jam out to some music or listen to your favorite podcast while you’re at it. If you’re short on time, even just a 10-minute dance party in your dorm can do wonders for your mood. If dancing is not your thing, try relaxing on one of Vanderbilt’s many lawns or taking an outdoor trip with Wilskills . 

Take a day (or longer) off of caffeine

Ditching the morning joe or can of Celsius can be difficult at first, but by the end of the day, you may find that it wasn’t so bad. Caffeine is a drug that we can’t seem to get enough of, but it’s worth a shot to try and take a break for the sake of your nerves. It’s hard for your mind to be calm when your body doesn’t have the ability to settle down. If you still want to treat yourself to a fun drink, try some of the non-caffeinated drinks that Suzie’s or Local Java have to offer.

Sleep!

I know it seems counterintuitive to take a break and shut down your mind when there’s so much you need to be getting done. However, cramming information into your brain and trying to do 10 things at once at midnight is not going to get you anywhere. Catching up on sleep can be a great way to feel physically ready to take on all of the things you need to accomplish. If the classic eight hours isn’t attainable for your routine, shoot for around six-and-a-half or seven. 

Also, make sure you’re not waiting to sleep until some ungodly hour of the morning. As hours of daylight are shorter in the fall and winter, it’s important to try and catch as much daylight as you can, and you’re not going to be doing a very good job of that if you’re waking up at noon because you didn’t go to bed until five in the morning. Vitamin D from the sun is essential to living a happy and healthy life. Some nights are too fun to end early, and that’s okay — fun is crucial to decreasing stress! But it shouldn’t be a habit to almost never see the sun.

Write things down (and then write them down again)

As someone who is not a master procrastinator, it’s important for me to write down upcoming assignments, meetings and other events so I can look ahead and see what’s coming my way. There have been several weeks that I’ve been absolutely swamped with obligations, but I properly prepared for it because I knew what was ahead of me, making for a decrease in stressful situations such as turning in assignments at 11:58 p.m.

When writing things down, the chosen model depends on what works for you. Google Calendar or a different planner app is great for when you’re making plans left and right and need to see how the timing works out. Physically writing things down can help improve your memory of them, too, so that may be the way to go. You don’t have to become a Pinterest princess with an aesthetically pleasing bullet journal that you design by hand — it can simply be just a calendar print-out that you make quick notes on. Finding some form of note-taking and planning will keep you from being blindsided by your upcoming engagements.

Make “you” time

When you’re assembling your upcoming schedule, don’t forget to make sure to leave some room for yourself. You don’t have to be on the grind 24/7, and you really shouldn’t be, either — that’s not a sustainable way to live. It’s also zero fun. Make sure there’s time in your life that you spend doing whatever you want to do. If you have to specifically make an event in your calendar to ensure it gets done, then do it. Making yourself a priority will greatly improve every day.

You time doesn’t necessarily have to be alone time. If you’re more of an extrovert, then spend that time hanging out with friends or going out. If you prefer to keep it between you and yourself, though, then make sure you don’t let other stressors intrude on that time. Take whatever route you need to in order to give yourself the most peace, comfort and enjoyment.

Don’t carry it all by yourself

Stress is a huge load on all of us. If it gets too heavy, you have to call on others to help lighten it for you. Sometimes that means sending an email to a professor to ask for an extension. Other times, it means rescheduling a coffee chat with an acquaintance. It’s even possible for it to simply just be venting about your problems to a friend who’s willing to listen. Whatever you do, just don’t bottle the stress up — it will explode eventually, and that load is going to crush you. Be willing to adjust your plans and communicate with others effectively in order to stop that from happening.

Another way to get great help for stress management is to take advantage of the Student Care Network, especially the Student Center for Wellbeing. If you’ve been able to build a connection with a trusted mentor, such as a faculty member or a VUceptor, reaching out to them can really make a difference.

As college students, we’re no strangers to stress. There’s no way to make it completely absent from our lives, so the best we can do is to find ways that make it more bearable. These tips won’t completely change your life, but they might help you find some solace and be more able to enjoy instead of dread your day.