Hello, hello! I'm back. I haven't had time to write much, and my laptop broke. But, here I am! My laptop has officially been fixed, and unless it breaks again or I am hospitalized, I am here to stay!

So, uh, happy holidays! I don't know what you celebrate, or if you even celebrate. But if you do, I wish you the best time possible! Even if you don't celebrate a holiday around this time of year, I wish you the best.

In this article, I'm going to address the issue of stress.

Let's face it: we've all been there. Three long assignments due the next day, and not enough time to do them in. I don't know about you, but when I have assignments piling up, I shut down from all of the stress. I cry a lot. I gain weight. I eat a lot. I don't get anything done.

Recently, this has happened to me. I never have time to work on things, such as this article. I just get so stressed out, and I can't deal with myself.

In order to deal with stress, I have devised this list to provide a way for coping:

➳ Take a second to assess your mental health. How bad is this affecting you? Who can you talk to about these things? Where can you get the help you need for the assignment?

➳ Make a notebook, folder, or space, and fill it with the things that make you happy. It could be the lyrics to one of your favorite songs, a quote that inspires you, pictures from a time when you felt great, a spritz of perfume, a pressed flower, or anything, really. Just pick things that are able to lift your mood.

➳ Use the study/break method. Work for thirty-five minutes, break for ten. You deserve breaks. You are only human, and you need time to collect your thoughts.

➳ Ask if you are able to get more time on one or two of the assignments. This will give you more time to focus on one at a time, thus resulting in a better grade.

➳ If you get a span of one or two days off during the week (in America, we have the weekend), stagger your assignments. It makes you feel less stressed, and you feel like you've gotten more done.

➳ Keep a positive outlook. Things will get better. I know that it might not seem as if they will, but eventually, you will reach brighter times. You are stronger than you think you are, so don't sell yourself short.

I guess this turned into a studying/stress kind of thing.

Even if it looks bleak, remember that there are people here who love you and support you.

Wow, this is getting really emotional.

I'll see you in the next issue!

xx,

crimsonxribbon