With the start of the school year, it's hard not to think about the stressful situations that are to come. Tests, homework, group projects, more homework — it all seems so overwhelming.

I know there are a lot of people who think that stress is a sign of weakness, of someone who can't handle difficult situations. I'm here to tell you not to worry about them.

Everyone gets stressed, and I mean EVERYONE. Even those who would rather not admit it.

Stress isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign that you're human.

This, of course, isn't me telling you to go seek out stressful situations. It's just a friendly reminder that being stressed is OK.

Now, this is coming from someone who procrastinates heavily (which I do not recommend), so I can tell you that I've been in a stressful situation or two or twenty.

I can also tell you some of things that have helped me in these times so you too can rid yourself of the headache that is stress.

1. Breathe. I know it sounds dumb, and of course you're already breathing, but that's not what I mean. Take a few minutes to just breathe in and out, and focus on your heartbeat. This will help to calm you down.

2. Make a list of all the things you need to get done. I usually put them in order of which is due first, so I can focus on what needs done right now and what can be done a bit later.

3. Do not lay all your work out in front of you. Looking at everything you need done can increase your stress. Just keep what you're currently working on in front of you.

4. Take breaks. I know, I know — you don't have TIME to take a break, but look, if you don't give yourself some time (even if it's only 10 minutes) to look away from your work, you're just gonna continue freaking out. Take a bathroom break, go pet your cat/dog, get a bottle of water or a snack. Just get up and stretch your legs.

5. Put the phone away. If there's one thing that is a complete and utter distraction to me, it's my phone. Whether it's friends texting me or notifications from Twitter, I can always count on my phone to get in my way. Text your friends and tell them you're going to do some work, so you won't be answering. Put your phone on SILENT, not vibrate, silent (if you have an iPhone, the Do Not Disturb feature is ideal), and stick it in a drawer somewhere.

While I can't guarantee that after doing this you will be completely stress free, I can tell you that it will, at the least, help.

I wish everyone the best of luck this semester, and have a great school year!