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Breathing can be very calming and therapeutic. You take so many breaths each day without ever thinking about it, but most of that breathing is shallow and only reaches the chest. Deep breathing requires you to measure your breathing patterns and take long, slow breaths that extend all the way down into your belly. Breathe in slowly through your nostrils to the count of four. Hold in your breath to the count of four. Exhale slowly to a count of four, either through your nostrils or though pursed lips. Rest for a count of four without taking any breaths until you've hit the four count. Take two normal breaths. Repeat the whole process. You should start to feel calmer fairly quickly. Meditation is an excellent way to relieve stress and fatigue, alleviate the symptoms of mental/emotional conditions like anxiety and depression, and even reduce the symptoms of physical pain/discomfort. It doesn't matter how you meditate; if you sit in silent meditation, you will quickly feel the calming effects. Find a quiet, calm place free from distractions. Turn off your television and silence your cellphone. Get into a comfortable position. You can sit on a cushion or the floor with your legs folded, sit upright in a chair, or even lie down. Take slow, deep breaths down into your diaphragm (below your ribcage). Aim for an even, steady breathing pace. Focus your attention on your breathing. Notice the sensations of breath: the way air feels as it passes through your nostrils, the feeling of your belly rising and falling, and so on. Any time your mind gets distracted and you start thinking outside thoughts, simply return your focus to your breathing. You can sit in meditation for as brief or as long a period of time as you would like. The important thing is to set aside some uninterrupted time to practice breathing and meditating. Mindfulness is a form of meditation that can help you lower your stress levels, reduce unpleasant distractions, and improve your overall mood. Mindfulness can be practiced any time throughout the day, but may be particularly helpful for when you need to disengage from a stressful day. Focus on your breathing. Take slow, deep breaths through your nostrils and down into your diaphragm. Pay close attention to everything around you. Notice your immediate environment and all of the sensory details (sight, smell, sound, feel) present in that space. Dive into your senses. If you eat something, notice the way it looks, the way it smells, the way it feels in your hands, the way it tastes, and the texture of the food as you slowly and mindfully chew it.

summary: Breathe deeply to help you unwind. Use meditation to calm down and relieve stress. Practice mindfulness to feel calmer and happier.

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Get out a piece of paper and write down everything that causes you to feel stress, or to feel overwhelmed. What people, places, and situations make you feel anxious? Try to be as comprehensive as possible, considering the times in your daily life that you feel like you can't be carefree. Who causes you to feel stressed out? A particular friend? A partner? A coworker? Try to cut as many of these stress-causers from your life as possible. If you can't, avoid them. Cut back on caffeine and other foods you eat that may lead to stress. Once you've identified the things that cause you to feel stressed out, Try to anticipate those situations and causes so you can avoid them if possible, and expect them if unavoidable. Everyone has to deal with stress as a part of their life. But if you can figure out a way to put stress in the back seat, you can be a lot more carefree. If you're headed into a busy day at work, you know it's going to be busy. Expect nothing less. That doesn't mean you have to feel stressed because of it. Just focus on getting through the day and getting finished. Try doing a short ritual with your stress list to Try to let it go. Tear it up. Look over your big stress causes one last time, then rip it into little pieces, or toss it into the fireplaces, or just throw it in the garbage. Or, alternatively, keep it with you in your pocket so you can remind yourself to stay ahead of things. When someone annoys you or is in a bad mood, the best thing to do isn't to walk away, it is to be the better person and remain polite. Conversations aren't about "winning" or "losing," they're about connecting with people. Eventually, this will become second nature, and you'll feel a lot lighter and better about yourself. If you feel yourself getting angry when you're provoked, just try the 10-second rule. Stop talking and just breathe for a full 10 seconds. If they stare at you, they stare. When you speak, say in a calm, even voice, "I don't want to get upset about this. Maybe we should talk another time." Remember that the only person you need to impress is yourself. Friends may come and go, but you will always have who you are. If people are telling you to change how you are, they aren't important enough to you for you to take their opinion into account. Be willing to listen when your friends offer good advice, however. If your close friends and trusted family members are telling you to change by stopping a bad habit, that is a different thing altogether. That doesn't mean going to the hair salon or buying that ridiculously expensive pair of shoes. If you want to be carefree, learn to accept that you look a certain way and love that. You are a unique individual and one of your gifts is your unique appearance. If you are a bit larger than "normal," you can either accept that and know that you look fine or work out and get skinnier. If you're tall, don't look at how awful it is to be tall, look at the good things, like reaching the higher shelves and seeing over everyone's heads in a crowd.

summary: Identify your stressors. Stay ahead of your stress. Stay ahead of your anger. Stop worrying about what other people think. Love how you look.

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Columbia has 17 graduate schools, providing masters, doctorates, and other advanced degrees in a wide variety of fields. Each school has different processes and requirements for application, so you will need to review them carefully. You will want to work with faculty who are accomplished in your chosen field, and will likely stay on for the duration of your time in the program. If possible, visit the campus and schedule an in-person meeting with your potential instructors. Some schools will provide information sessions, or help arrange these meetings. Columbia's graduate programs are some of the best in the country, and will need to see strong collegiate performance for admittance. Pay close attention to see if your chosen program has required courses, and make sure to focus your academic energies on earning high marks in those classes. Each program will likely provide a range of GPAs accepted each year. If this information is not easily accessible through the school's website, contact the program directly to see what information they can provide. Each graduate program has its own test requirements, and acceptable ranges for admission. Contact the program directly if that information is not readily available. Make sure to take all required exams, and arrange for proper submission of scores. Make sure you can clearly articulate why you wish to study at Columbia, and how the program will help you achieve your professional goals. Ask others, particularly trusted professors, to review your essay before submission to comment on its clarity and effectiveness. If you are finishing an undergraduate degree, your current school may offer additional help through a career services office. You will want letters from college instructors who are closely familiar with your work ethic, communication skills, character, and capabilities. Instructors who have ties to Columbia, either having attended the school or knowing Columbia faculty personally, can also provide good information, if not good letters. If they are willing, take the opportunity to talk with your letter writers about why you wish to attend Columbia, which can help provide a more personalized letter that really emphasizes your strengths as an applicant. Make sure you have all required materials ready when you submit the application, and provide as many supplementary materials as the program suggests.
summary: Decide which school you should apply to. Contact potential advisors. Get good grades. Score highly on the appropriate standardized tests. Write a strong personal statement. Get strong recommendations. Fill out the application as completely as possible.