It’s midterm season! Trust me, I’ve been talking to many of you lately, and I can tell you’re all a bit stressed. I get that. I’ve been there.

Classes are becoming more demanding, homework is getting intense, and balancing work and life at the same time can feel impossible. I remember those days vividly: staying up in the library until 4 a.m. trying to finish an essay due for my 8 a.m. English class.

Coffee, Red Bull, cookies, and sunflower seeds—anything to keep me focused, awake, and productive. It wasn’t necessarily a healthy way to live; it wasn’t the best way to manage my stress either. Having gone through it all, I’ve learned a few things over the years and have some suggestions!

I talk to students all the time about sleep and honestly, the most common average amount of sleep I hear that people get is around five to six hours per night. This makes sense. It’s not a terrible number, either. However, I often side with years of research that suggest students prioritize seven to nine hours of sleep per night.

Seems impossible, right? Not if you make an active effort to disengage from the world and focus on good, healthy sleep.

I know, I know, I know—Netflix is addictive, Facebook is engrossing, and homework still needs to get done amid all of that, but there is nothing more important for managing your stress than getting some sleep. You’ll function and think better, plus you’ll process your daily tasks much more coherently.

A simple step to achieve better sleep is to stop using your phones, TVs, iPads—whichever—and either read or relax at least 30 minutes before going to bed. This little change in your nightly routine could mean the difference between good sleep and no-good, very awful sleep. Better sleep during midterms will benefit you tremendously.

Also, make sure you’re eating well. I mean, prioritize healthy and tasty foods like fruits and vegetables—foods that give you good, natural energy. Make a breakfast for yourself and pack some snacks. Not only will you save some money, but you’ll be able to keep yourself to the food you packed. Snacks are essential when it comes to studying for midterms—give yourself treats along the way.

I would suggest staying away from energy drinks or excessive amounts of caffeine. I speak from experience on this one, folks. Limiting your caffeine intake will help you function better, especially if you are getting the right amount of sleep.

Drink LOTS of water. Water is the most effective and most natural way to energize your body. It’s cheap (typically free), and available virtually everywhere on campus. So put the coffee down and pick up some high-quality H2O.

I know you’re all incredibly busy, so I suggest taking at least 30 minutes out of your day to either take a walk, go for a run, or squeeze in a quick work out in the campus gym—a quick mile on the treadmill, some free weights, and maybe a little jump rope to get your heart rate going.

This will get your body moving, which will increase your endorphins and improve your mental state—allowing your body to manage your blood pressure, improve your cholesterol, and sweat away that stress.

And if getting to the gym doesn’t work with your schedule, taking time in the morning to do a quick set of push-ups, sit-ups, or even stretching before starting your day has shown to greatly improve your mobility throughout the day.

Honestly, I also think scheduling regular naps or breaks to work out is incredibly important for your success during midterms and especially during the rest of the school year.

Finally, I also suggest doing social and creative things as often as you can. Don’t sacrifice your social life for school or work—as much as possible. I know that for some of you, school and work are your livelihoods. Being around friends and keeping up your creative activities (e.g. music, art, video games) is tremendously beneficial for your mental health and overall wellness when you are stressed.

You deserve breaks from the chaos of life and school, so work them into your study sessions.

Although I may work for University Health Services, my office is on the third floor of the Campus Center (3407) within the Student Activities Office. Feel free to come by whenever if you’d like to learn more about health and wellness, get involved, or to just chat about life.