No one can stay happy all the time. It’s just not human. You can do everything right; try to minimize stress, stay close to your friends and family, keep your grades up. But sometimes life still manages to find a way to make you feel down in the dumps. When it inevitably does, it’s helpful to have some pick-me-up methods in your back pocket that don’t take too much time out of your day.

It gets to be especially important to show some TLC to your mental health when it hits this point in the semester. Midterms are coming to an end, and professors are gradually starting to mention the horror of finals week. It’s important that you’re realistic when considering ways to minimize the bad feelings. It shouldn’t feel like a daunting task to make yourself feel a little bit better at the moment.

It’s also helpful to remember that no one method is going to work for everyone. If something like journaling is too much of a commitment for you at the moment, don’t journal. Find something less intimidating, like keeping up with your personal hygiene or talking to your friends. The important thing is that you make your mental health a priority and find tactics that work for you personally so that you can make it through the semester with at least a little sanity. Keep your head up, summer is just around the corner!

1. Step outside and get some fresh air.

Vitamin D works wonders and you won’t realize how much you’ve missed the sunshine until you feel it.

2. Go through a quick breathing exercise.

Close your eyes and place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Inhale through your nose for 7 seconds, and then exhale through your mouth for 7 seconds. Do this a few times and focus on physically feeling your breath enter and exit your body each time.

3. Listen to some of your favorite music that makes you feel warm and safe.

Music therapy is real and it’s scientifically proven to flood your body with the chemicals that cause happiness. Trust the science.

4. Fill up a water bottle to keep with you at all times and use it continuously throughout the day.

Hydration is key. It keeps your mind alert and your body happy.

5. Do a quick posture check if you’ve been sitting down for a while.

You’ll be surprised how much tension you can release by just removing the slouch in your back.

6. Take a break from whatever is keeping your mind occupied.

Respond to any text messages from your friends and family that have been left unread.

7. Get moving.

To get your blood flowing, stretch out your arms and legs and walk around the room for a bit.

8. Grab a small snack, preferably something nutritious, if you haven’t eaten in a while.

Nourishing your body is absolutely crucial! Sometimes it’s easy to forget about meals when you’re feeling stressed or sad, and this can have directly negative impacts on your health.

9. Keep some hand lotion in your bag and moisturize every once in a while.

This one may sound odd, but calming scents sometimes do have a positive impact on your mindset, though it may be small. Regardless, it’s always a good idea to keep your skin happy. Hydrate or die-drate, right?

10. Take 5 minutes to read a few pages out of a book you enjoy.

Reading is a near immediate way to distract your mind from whatever is stressing you out. Immerse yourself into someone else’s world for a few minutes and come back to reality with (hopefully) a fresh perspective.

11. Surround yourself with people who make you feel brighter.

If you’re not feeling up to talking to people in the moment, that’s okay! But if you are able to, it’s always helpful to put yourself in situations where you can feel the support from people who care about you.

12. Go on a walk, or maybe a run if you’ve got the time and motivation.

Just like listening to music, any amount of exercise is shown to send dopamine, the happy chemical, straight to your brain! Happy neurotransmitters are the best neurotransmitters.

13. Find some four-legged friends to love! It’s always therapeutic to be in the presence of animals.

If you don’t have your own pet, you can always take a few minutes to head to your local animal shelter and pet some of the sweet fur babies that are desperate for love and attention.

14. Take a shower.

It’s just plain necessary, but it’s also a quick way to refresh your mind.

15. While you’re at it, take advice from Buddy the Elf and put on your own shower concert.

Sometimes singing loud for all to hear really does help!

16. Write down some things you’re thankful for.

Train your mind to think on the bright side and appreciate what you have instead of what you don’t.

17. All in all, remind yourself that nothing is permanent.

The sun will always rise again and you will have the chance to make tomorrow a better day!