You’ve survived the holidays with your family. You’ve traveled over hills, rivers and dales to come back to school for round two in this boxing match of stress we call education. It’s tough, but in the end, it’ll be worth it.

In the meantime, here are some ways to survive that fight.

1. Laugh it off.

This won't make the problem go away, and I'm not suggesting that you make light of the situation. But sometimes when the pressure gets too much, you're allowed to crack. Laughing releases endorphins and can calm you down. So look up some sketches on YouTube or check out a special from your favorite stand-up.

Laughing is all about looking at the awfulness and finding something good. So look for it!

2. Give yourself the right fuel.

It's very tempting to binge on cheap ramen, especially when you're on a budget. But your body will thank you if you make an effort to eat plenty of healthy food and drink lots of water. Your body is like a fancy sports car. If you don't give it the right fuel, the inside will get full of gunk, and it won't be ready for all the stress of the road.

3. Socialize...yes with real people.

That may be true, especially when the urge to keep studying is always nagging at you. But talking to a friend or relative will help you to unwind, even if it's only a short conversation in the kitchen of your apartment or a long chat with your favorite aunt. They may even know some tips and tricks to help with your problem!

4. Exercise. No, really.

Unless you are the most dedicated of gym rats, you're probably reading this on your phone or computer sitting still. While I understand all too well the distractions of the Internet and real people, it's important to pencil in some kind of exercise. If you can't get to the campus gym, go for a short walk, or do some yoga. You can find plenty of tutorials online, as well as set exercise routines. Just make sure you actually do something⎯ it'll release endorphins and help you sleep better.

5. Write it down.

Keeping a prayer/stress/general life journal goes a long way to help relieving stress. This is a particularly effective strategy for introverts and people who have to get away from people in order to energize. Being able to articulate a problem in writing can help you figure out a problem and lets you vent your frustrations in a healthy way.

6. Breathe⎯ possibly with a paper bag.

Shallow breathing is anxiety's best friend and puts your brain into fight-or-flight mode. So when you become overwhelmed, it helps to focus on something you never think about⎯ breathing. There are several different exercises you can try, but a basic one is coherent breathing. Inhale for five seconds, and then exhale for another five seconds. This maximizes your heart rate variability, which helps your cardiovascular system and improves stress response.

7. Do something you enjoy.

We all have hobbies, but in school it's hard to justify actually doing them. However, experts agree that you should try to do something you enjoy every day, even if it's only for 15 minutes. It might be going for a run, listening to music or making something. Whatever it is, give yourself permission to take a break, and do something for yourself.

8. Actually relax.

This is an excellent strategy for guided relaxation, especially just before bed. Lay down, and focus on relaxing one part of your body at a time until you are completely relaxed. While we are under stress, sometimes we can unconsciously hold our muscles too tight so we don't actually know how it feels to be relaxed. This teaches you the difference and can help physical problems like stomachaches and headaches.

9. OHMMMMM...

Meditation is a way for you to calm your mind before trying to tackle a problem. If you dive in before getting yourself together, you're more likely to make a bad decision without realizing it. This takes practice, but you can try focusing on a specific mantra and breathing, while walking or merely in silence. Try several different strategies to find the one that works for you!

10. You are the little student who can.

This may seem a bit hokey, but positive affirmations are more powerful than you might think. If you focus on a statement over and over again, you start to believe it in spite of yourself. Usually, while we're under stress, we focus on the negative. In order to combat that instinct, change the mantras in your head to something positive, and you'll get radical results.