After making it through my first big round of exams and assignments of the semester, I can finally breathe a big sigh of relief. Just like Dilani, I’ve learned a few important lessons from taking midterms and I’d love to share them with you. Here are my 5 favorite ways to relax when I’m feeling overwhelmed by school work.

Work-out the Stress

Finding literal and figurative balance in tree pose

There is nothing quite like a good ol’ endorphin rush to take your mind off of things. I have never regretted taking the time to do some quick cardio or yoga, even when I barely have the time to squeeze it in. Especially when I am stressed out. If you’re not sure where to start, you could always check out the USG gym.

Pump Up the Music

I listen to a TON of music during midterms. I have playlists that help me stay focused while studying, but I also have playlists for when I’m taking a break from school work. Putting on really fun, catchy songs will instantly put me in a better mood. One of my friends recommended the song Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon, and I’ve definitely listened to it a lot recently.

Find a Quiet Place

A little bit of peace and quiet goes a long way. When I’m stressed out, I set a timer for 5 minutes and do NOTHING during that time to help me recharge my brain and relax. Midterms during fall semester is great because it’s still warm enough to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air while I do this.

Visit the Café

Enjoying a nice cup of tea in the Green Grove Café

There is a Starbucks just a few minutes from campus, but who has time for that during a busy week? The café next to the cafeteria is one of my go-to spots on campus. On early mornings, my main focus is to get as much caffeine in me as quickly as possible, so I go with a 16 ounce latte (3 shots of espresso!). But, later in the day, I try to lay off of the caffeine to help myself calm down. That’s when a nice, hot cup of tea really hits the spot.

Catch Some Sleep

It can be really tempting to pull all-nighters in college, especially when you’re not feeling as prepared as you would like to be. Skipping out on sleep isn’t going to do you any good in the long run (or short run, actually). Being exhausted ups the amount of stress I feel considerably, so I do my best to stay well-rested. And, as uncool as it is, that means setting a bed time for myself!

I’m not sure there’s ever a way to get rid of stress completely. To be honest, sometimes a little bit of a stress can be a good way to get motivated. But, when it gets to be too much, I know these 5 tried-and-true methods can help me calm down and re-focus. Do you have any favorite ways to de-stress? Let me know in the comments!