“First, I have to submit that college application before the deadline. Then, I have to remember to finish my French homework. Oh, but wait … I also need to come up with a script for Speech and Debate. And shoot! I have a math test tomorrow, and Mr. Appleby even told us it was going to be hard. OH MY GOD! Is it already 10 p.m.? I promised myself that I would try to go to bed early tonight!”

A regular high school student most likely has had similar nights to the one I just described: a mess of homework, after-school activities, and overall chaos that leads to sleepless nights and insanity. To help out the poor souls staring at their computer at 3 a.m., I have come up with a list of the three most important rules to help give you back your sanity.

1. Avoidance

For anyone looking to manage their stress, there is a key word to learn: no. It’s important to know your limits and stick to them. From choosing which classes to take to resisting taking control of a group project, the word “no” is magic. It lets people know not to mess with you, and as someone who works hard to make people fear them, take it from me — that this is a good thing.

“Should” and “must” are key words too. It is important to know that some things simply can’t get done and that there is nothing wrong with ignoring unnecessary tasks. Don’t worry if you make your friends angry for not getting sushi with them after school, the most important thing is managing and minimizing any conduits for stress to enter your life.

2. Adaptability

If you can’t avoid stress, then maybe you can change yourself to overcome it.

Looking at the big picture can add a perspective that makes stress easier to manage. For example, studying for a math test can seem pointless because who in the heck is ever going to need to know how to find the derivative of an exponential function? But understanding that failing can affect your grade and, therefore, your competitiveness to colleges, can help.

When I am stressed, I liked to take a minute to reflect on the things that I enjoy and that keep me happy. This includes listening to one of my favorite songs or drinking my favorite tea. Anything that gives you a sense of happiness is key to overcoming stress, which brings me to my final point.

3. Making time for fun

Whether it be playing a videogame or driving to New York City, anything that brings you a sense of joy is crucial to relieving stress.

Also remember to keep a sense of humor when you’re stressed. It’s important to learn to laugh at yourself and at the prospect of having hours upon hours of work. People may call you crazy if they see you laughing at your notebook at midnight, but remember to smile and understand that everyone goes through stress. The key is to manage it in an effective and healthy way.

Billy Jump is an In-Depth editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.