Going back to school after a tough summer can cause anxiety and fear. Though the struggles of the summer still remain fresh in my mind, I am trying to mentally prepare myself for the mental strain that homework and life will also put on me. And... I am five weeks into the semester already…

Though I love being a ministry major at Northwest Nazarene University, it is still tough to go back to a life at school without my best friend and with the anxieties that come with homework every night. I am a sophomore, and even though I am now much more prepared for college than the world of confusion being a freshman causes, I still have anxiety about being back at school. The secret is, just about everyone has anxieties about life and school; most kids have college loans after all!

I have found that the key to stress management in school, which can be used universally on college campuses is finding an outlet to creativity and rest. Ironically, though I have to admit that essays do not count, I love writing, but that is just one of the many ways to manage school stress.

1. Take advantage of school counseling (I know, you don’t want to seem like the crazy kid on campus, but it will help relieve some stress!)
2. Take off campus trips to hike, go to the store, or Dutch Bros (Coffee shop)
3. Campus activities (Dances, sports, dorm parties, choir concerts, etc.)
4. Volunteer to serve food at the nearest homeless shelter (You will get to know a lot of interesting people and do something good for your community.)
5. Get a job that you enjoy (I would go happily crazy if I worked at Bares and Noble! But.. I would never have money.)
6. Get a membership at the nearest rec center or go to the gym
7. Paint (Even if your best artistic feat is the most beautifully painted stick figure in first grade)
8. Read (Novels, not text books! Take some time off to leave school behind and find Narnia.)
9. Netflix (We all know and love this one!)
10. Participate in intermural Sporting Events
11. Play video games (“The Last of Us” has a pretty good storyline.)
12. Karaoke nights (Feel free to sing out loud and off key)
13. Start a band
14. Visiting parents (If they are close, if not Call them! Just not too much…)
15. Visit Cat and Dog cafes/shelters
16. Go to church
17. Join a campus club (Preferably one to occasionally goes off campus)
18. Plan a dream trip (To take when you graduate or the years after)
19. Listen to music
20. Cry (This legitimately helps relieve stress and is acceptable. We are college students. We live in piles of homework so heavy our backs just might break. It’s totally okay to cry about it!)