College students can pretty much be summed up as little balls of stress rolling around, bumping into things and getting stuck in terrible situations. Anxious feelings are contagious on a university campus, rolling off of everyone in thick waves of exhaustion and hopelessness.

Professors can be particularly adept at sensing their students’ distress. Last week, Professor David Davies stopped his class to address the “free-floating anxiety” that was permeating the air. In other words, the stress levels in the room were so high that it was necessary to take a break to talk about our feelings.

We know all of this is easier said than done, but here are a few things to keep in mind as we head into the end of the semester.

1.) Remember, you do not have to be perfect. It’s okay to screw up. All you can ever do is come up with the best possible solution and MOVE ON. Any of us could spend forever beating ourselves up for the stupid mistakes we make everyday, and that would be a tremendous waste of time and energy.

2.) There is absolutely nothing wrong with crying. In fact, according to medicaldaily.com, in addition to releasing toxins, killing bacteria and improving vision by keeping our eyes hydrated, tears can elevate mood, relieve stress and sometimes communicate our feelings better than words. So if you need to curl up in the fetal position and cry it out, just do it.

3.) Don’t be afraid to talk about it. Find a good friend with a compassionate ear, or visit the folks down in Counseling and Health Services and let it all out. Get it off your chest and allow someone else to take care of you for a little while.

4.) This one is for when you’re helping someone else deal with their anxiety. Don’t try to solve someone else’s problems. It’s extremely tempting to try to come up with a solution to make everything all better for the ones you love, but rarely is it helpful. Listen with a gentle ear, make sure they know you care, but don’t try to fix it. Odds are, that’s not what they want from you; they just want you to listen.

5.) Take the time to care for your body. If you’ve ever taken a psychology class, you know that stress doesn’t just affect your mental health, but takes a toll on your physiological health too. If you’re feeling stressed, it’s even more important to take a break to take care of yourself. As much as possible, don’t sacrifice sleeping. Force yourself to stretch your legs and at least walk outside if you’re not the go-to-the-gym-and-workout type. Eat healthy foods, and maybe cut back on the binge drinking. (Just a suggestion.)

6.) Turn it off. Put the phone away. In another room. Under a blanket. Keep it out of sight and out of mind. It’s a freeing experience.

Take care of yourselves!