Crap. That giant assignment due in two days has got you feeling a lot like Indiana Jones fleeing a giant rolling boulder, and you feel like that giant assignment-boulder will squash you into a pancake.

You so need an extension. Don’t panic, we’ve all been there. Whether you’re completely at a loss for sources on that giant research paper, or you’ve got exams in your other classes scheduled all for the same day, or you’ve just got too much going on and can’t hold your mind together long enough to crank out the appropriate information, just remember: it’s going to be ok. This will not be the end of the world. Follow these easy steps to ask for an extension.

1. Take a breath

Seriously. Whether or not your professor comes through and gives you the extension, you’re going to be ok. But it’s not going to help anyone if you hold your breath until you pass out.

2. Draft an email to your professor

Try to avoid including gifs of people crying and all caps sentences like “I’M DYING”. They probably won’t care.

3. List the reasons this assignment is going to be the death of you

But do it politely, and try not to complain about their class in the process. Explain whatever else is going on in your life that means you can’t do their assignment too, but do it briefly. Don’t bare your soul to them, but let them see a sliver of your suffering.

4. Remind them of your commitment to their class

If you’ve done every single assignment for this class all semester, remind them of that, and tell them you will continue to work hard for the rest of the semester. If you haven’t kept up in class very well, emphasize that you have been trying and will continue to do your best.

5. Be as polite as possible

Don’t yell at them, but be assertive. Say please, acknowledge that they don’t have to grant you the extension, and thank them for considering. It helps to open with “I have to ask for” blah “because reasons” and to end with something like “I appreciate your understanding”, because it is assertive without being angry or pushy, and will ideally poke at their sympathy.

6. Have a friend reread your email

Just like you would before you turn in a paper, you want to have someone proofread your email. Make sure you didn’t spell their name wrong, that you’re addressing the professor in the proper way, and that you didn’t go off on a tangent and start yelling about how little sleep you have. It’s especially helpful if your friend has also had a class with your professor, and knows what will and will not annoy them.

7. Send that beautiful thing!

Just like shooting an arrow. Take a breath, let it out, and let the email fly!

8. Take another breath

You’ve done it! You’ve asked for the extension! That wasn’t so bad! Now, if you’re completely dead inside, take a break from work. Take a nap, or just go to bed if it’s that time of night. If you’re not completely dead (and especially if your professor seems like the type that won’t give you the extension), keep working as best you can. That way, if your professor turns out to be a piece of work and won’t give you the extension, you’ll have something to give them, and if they do give you the extension, you’ll be able to edit and fix your drafts later. Either way, take a minute to reward yourself- you’ve earned it!