As a full-time student, stressing is our worst enemy. It's only natural that we stress over exams, assignments, term essays and more exams. What many people don't realize is that stress is the biggest contributor to diseases, so it's a good idea to learn to manage the tension before it becomes a bigger problem that is too difficult to handle.

Here are some helpful tips to de-stress anytime and anywhere while tackling those midterms to facing those dreadful final exams. After you've de-stressed, you'll learn to appreciate life and may end up feeling happier and more relaxed as opposed to worrying about every little thing in your life.

1. Take a Break!

Turn your attention to something else that allows you AND your brain to take a break. Fun activities such as hanging out with your friends and family, yoga, and exercise will help you. Spending time outdoors or in a new environment can re-energize and provide you with a fresh focus.

2. Develop a Good Sense of Humor

Sometimes we stress over mistakes that we've made, no matter how small, and think that it's suddenly the end of the world. Try not to make a big deal out of every little thing and instead of fretting, laugh over your mistakes, reflect on them and move on. Nothing says wasting your time than being angry and bitter because of the mistakes that you've made. Trust me, it feels best to accept the mistakes your made and move on as not everyone is perfect, and learning from your mistakes is a natural part of your life.

3. Appreciate Constructive Criticism

Speaking of loosening up, the same goes for accepting criticism. When someone approaches you and gives you critical feedback or makes suggestions for improvements, make sure you don't take it the wrong way, especially if they mean it caringly and constructively. Remember, these people only want you to improve yourself and not make you feel miserable so that you end up as a better person. People respond to you depending on how you approach them, so going through life in a positive, upbeat manner will reflect right back at you as it makes a really good first impression.

4. Healthy Eating

Remember what your parents said about eating fruits and vegetables? Eating healthy minimizes your stress levels, as foods such as whole grains are a huge energy booster to your diet and health. But steer away from junk food as they have very little nutritional value and can increase your bad cholesterol levels.

5. Sleep!

Always, always, ALWAYS get enough sleep! As a full-time student, it's difficult to accomplish that as some of us may have bad habits staying up late trying to finish our term papers and cramming for exams at the last minute. But no matter how desperate we are trying to complete our courses with grace (and good grades), keep in mind that sleeping more improves your work performance at school. The least thing you want is ending up going to class or writing your exam with a sleeping brain. Remember that paying attention to your stress level and learning to manage it is important to continue living a longer, healthier and happier life. It's good for you and your body, as you learn to appreciate the positive things in your life and to accept and embrace the negatives more positively. So, always take care of yourself because this is the ultimate gift you can give to your body and mind, as they will thank you for it too!