Post-Halloween and Pre-Thanksgiving is a crucial time for forming First Marking Period grades. The 70-or-lower notices have been sent out to our parents there is definitely a lot of explaining to do. Seniors finishing college application deadlines have a lot on their plate- but we can’t succumb to Senioritis yet people! SAT/ACT test takers every Saturday morning have to worry if this is the test that gets them into their dream school, or if they’ll fall just short on the Naviance graph. Even freshman, just starting out in a new school with teachers you’ve never heard of have to work hard to maintain a grade point average.  Everyone has something to be stressed about, but here are 14 ways to ease the pain:

1. Take a deep breath: deep breathing helps lower blood pressure and it’ll help you calm down, even just for a second.
2. Eat a mango: they contain a compound called linalool, which lowers stress levels.

One 100g mango provides:

Around 50 percent of daily Vitamin C

More than 50 percent of daily Vitamin A

A sufficient amount of dietary fiber

And they’re also delicious.

3. Cut an orange: citrus smells boost feelings of well-being by increasing levels of norepinephrine in the body.

4. Eat some chocolate! I know what you’re thinking, stress eating is pretty awesome. Dark chocolate reduces levels of the stress hormone, Cortisol.

5. Get up! Do some stretches. Go through the gym class routine even. Stretching and being active is natural, sitting for 8 hours a day is not.

6. Get some Tea: No, not 99 cent Arnold Palmer from Krausers. Drinking hot tea relieves anger and frustration. It also gives you a nice hot drink to warm up with as the cold weather rolls in. It also has health benefits: dental care, heightens metabolism, reduces cancer risks, hydrates the body, prevents your arteries from narrowing, helps treat neurological diseases, and promotes bone health.

7. Look away from the screen: staring at something for too long isn’t natural and it causes strain on your eyes, especially in the dark!

8. You can talk to yourself- it isn’t crazy! It is proven as reassuring and calming.

9. Watch a funny YouTube video: Laughter releases endorphins that improve mood and decrease levels of the stress-causing hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Just don’t get sucked into the vortex of cute animal videos and babies laughing

10. Accept it: You are stressed. Accept the fact and own it, don’t lie to yourself.

11.BE ORGANIZED: Lists, flashcards, a clean workspace, all of these improve focus

12. Chew Gum: Studies suggest the act of chewing gum can reduce cortisol levels, helping to alleviate stress.

13. Hug It Out. Hugging may actually reduce blood pressure and stress levels

14. Kiss it away: Kissing releases chemicals that ease hormones associated with stress, like cortisol. Forming positive relationships is also a key way to help reduce stress and anxiety.