As Halloween has past and other holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching quickly, we are put under an immense amount of stress. Especially around Christmas time when schools are beginning to up the work in preparation for finals. On top of this, you might feel overwhelmed with the Christmas shopping you still have to do or the family gatherings coming up. However, we need to use strategic ways to cope with these stressful scenarios.

Managing your time wisely is the number one tip that comes in handy with protecting your mental health. As more work is being piled on us, we can divide and conquer across many days. Focus on the assignments or tasks that need to be completed by the next day or the next morning first so that you aren’t likely to forget about them. Longer pieces of work, such as essays, can be split into multiple days. You could find evidence for one day and finish a body paragraph on the next.

Setting aside time for yourself and prioritizing self-care is also key in keeping stress levels down. Although you may be having a busy week, make sure you schedule time for yourself where you can participate in your favorite activities, such as reading, listening to music, or watching T.V. This prevents you from becoming drained and instead recharges you before you have to work again.

Finally, if none of these strategies seem to work for you very well, you can always ask for the help of a trusted or professional individual. This could make it easier for you to talk about your feelings and what’s bothering you in the moment. Life is never stress free, which makes it difficult to continue dealing with it, so don’t hesitate to speak up.