Officer interviews, AP tests, CIF championships. With an increase in the number of activities toward the end of the school year, stress is bound to become a burden to high school students. Here are some tips for how to control excess stress:

Plan. The best way to deal with pressure is preventing or minimizing it. Start off by creating a list of tasks that need to be completed by the end of the day and rank them by importance. Finish the vital things first, worry about the small details later.

Take a break. Stuck on a difficult math problem? Don’t understand a science concept? Instead of spending hours agonizing over something, stop thinking about whatever it is that stymies you. Forget about the problem and seek comfort by watching your favorite sports team or rewatching your favorite movie for the fiftieth time. Return to the problem in a few minutes and by then, you might have a fresh approach.

Work together. Studying with friends is often more fun and effective compared to sitting alone in your room attempting to cram a whole year’s worth of Psychology vocabulary in one sitting. Other people have different studying methods and by reviewing together, you can take  some of the mental burden of re-learning material off your shoulders. The learning process becomes way more enjoyable with a few classmates by your side.

Eat. If you just can’t figure out how to begin your poetry explication of “Where the Sidewalk Ends,” go munch on a snack or sip on your favorite soft drink. Food helps stimulate your brain, as your body takes up the nutrients, while a drink of water can clear up that headache you didn’t realize you were developing.

Get some fresh air. Spending hours cooped up in your room can lead to fuzzy thinking and sleepiness. Get up and get moving. Chat with some neighbors or walk your dog. By stimulating blood flow to your brain, you can help your brain start working more efficiently.

Finally, just calm down. Worrying about every little thing that could go wrong during your interview isn’t going to help at all. In fact, no amount of worrying can help you; excessive nervousness can actually leave you worse off. Prepare well, study hard, and do your best.