You may associate bullying with playground taunts and middle school snickers, but this is an issue that can persist well into your adult years. Bullying is alive and well on many college campuses. Though there’s often little you can do to avoid the bully’s gaze, there are ways to stop the aggression in its tracks and prevent it from taking over your life.

Step Back and Don’t Engage

Bullies are usually looking for a reaction. Your distress gives them a feeling of power. Many bullies were themselves the victim of bullying in another situation. These individuals then go on to bully others as a way of reasserting themselves and regaining the sense of superiority that they lost before. This makes bullying a vicious cycle.

Break out of the cycle by refusing to fight back or by accepting any sense of blame, hurt, or inferiority. Recognize that bullies are only expressing their insecurities. Express nothing to the bully. Walk away quietly and confidently, and the bully will often lose interest.

Document the Problem

Though this may seem unnecessary, it’s always best to document any form of bullying that you experience on campus. Save text messages, emails, and social media communications for future evidence. If the bullying doesn’t stop when you ignore the instigator, this record will come in handy. It can help you prove to counselors, professors, or even law enforcement that there’s a serious issue going on.

Reach Out for the Right Kind of Help

You should never feel like you have to suffer bullying alone. However, your fellow classmates aren’t the best resource for handling a serious issue with a bully. Recruiting friends to help you fight back will only cause the issue to escalate. You should turn instead to a more impartial party who’s in a position of authority.

Someone like your school counselor, assistant dean, or RA is well-placed not only to council you on the issue, but to help you take action. These individuals may help you change your course schedule or living arrangements as needed to remove yourself from a hostile situation. If the bullying makes you feel unsafe or seriously disrupts your day-to-day activities, you may even want to ask campus law enforcement if they can help.

Find Your Circle

Bullies will often try to isolate their victims. In high school, you always had the safe haven of your home to return to, but the situation is trickier in college. Find a circle of friends well away from the bully’s sphere of influence so you have another kind of retreat here. Try joining a club, volunteering with a charity, or even getting a job so you’ll have plenty of chances to connect with new people. These friends can give you the support and validation you need to brush off the harsh opinions of the bully.

If you’re being bullied, keep your cool at all costs. Wait until you’re in a safe space to vent your anger, and turn to the right people for help. These actions can help you avoid a larger issue.

Bunking up with a flatmate is a quintessential college experience everyone should have. For better or worse, this is a powerful learning opportunity. Don’t panic if your roomie relationship isn’t blissfully smooth. Most people will encounter occasional issues when confined to close quarters. Try a few tricks to respectfully address the following conflicts and find effective solutions.

You Have Different Standards of Cleanliness

Everyone has their own idea of clean. It’s important to establish guidelines as early as possible on this issue so you don’t fall into bad habits. This is a fairly easy topic to address when you bring it up respectfully. Sit down and decide which chores you’re each responsible for and how often you’ll do them. Draft a quick list detailing how you’ll split the cleaning duties, and keep it somewhere you can both see for easy reference.

If your roommate is slacking on his or her responsibilities, offer a gentle reminder. Don’t let your frustration simmer while the mess worsens. This is a topic you should always speak up on.

You Keep Opposite Schedules

College classes and activities take place at all hours of the day or night. If you and your roommate are on opposite school schedules, you may find that you’re struggling to sleep through study sessions while your roomie tosses and turns as you go through the morning routine. Discuss the hours that you’d each like quiet and find ways that you can better accommodate each other. Try studying in the common room after certain hours or taking your blow dryer to the bathroom in the morning so you can both get your much-needed sleep.

Guests Are Sleeping Over Often

It’s not uncommon for a roommate to develop a relationship that eventually bleeds into their time at home. Their constant guest might be a significant other or it could simply be a close friend. Regardless, you may feel uncomfortable with your newly cramped living quarters or the noise and disruptions of having another person in the room.

It’s best to discuss your boundaries for sleepovers when you first move in. This way, your concerns aren’t aimed at a specific individual who might take offense. If you must address the issue later, try to do so when the third party isn’t present. Come armed with a compromise, and offer specific times and activities that you’re comfortable with sharing in exchange for reclaiming some of your time alone.

There’s an Undercurrent of Aggression

It’s unfortunate, but in some cases, roommates simply don’t get along. You may have radically different political or religious views and few interests in common. Try to smooth things over by inviting your roomie out for lunch or striking up a conversation in his or her area of interest. If these efforts don’t work, talk to a mediator, such as your RA or a school counselor. If this person can’t help you resolve your issues, they may help you switch rooms.

If you sense trouble brewing in your apartment or dorm room, act quickly. The earlier you address a problem, the easier it is. You’ll often find that open conversation can get you everywhere.

Being away from home and your regular routine for the first time isn’t always easy. During your first year of college, it isn’t unusual to make a few unhealthy choices or put on a few pounds. That doesn’t mean you have to gain the so-called freshman 15, though. Check out six ways to fight the freshman 15 and stay healthy throughout your first year of college.

Pace Your Meals Throughout the Day

As you might have heard, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it’s also essential that you pace all of your meals throughout the day. Not only does eating healthy meals three times a day keep you fueled with energy and nutrients, but this schedule also keeps you from getting too hungry and overeating later in the day.

Develop a Dining Hall Game Plan

There’s no question that making healthy choices at the dining hall can be tricky. Not only are many of the foods fried or covered in cheese, but the portions are also huge. Rather than filling up on pizza or fried foods, opt for salads, fresh fruit, steamed vegetables, or baked or grilled meats. Try to avoid the pastas and cream sauces altogether or pick small portions and balance them out with a fresh salad on the side.

Snack Smart

Even if you eat most of your meals at the dining hall, you’ll want to have at least a few snacks on hand for when hunger pangs strike outside of mealtime. For instance, fresh vegetables and hummus or fresh fruit and your favorite nut butter are nutritious choices. If you don’t have a refrigerator, there are plenty of equally healthy snacks that can be kept in air-tight containers.

Skip the Drinks

From soda and smoothies to espresso drinks, most are packed with sugar and empty calories. Rather than making these drinks part of your daily diet, keep cold water, tea, and coffee on hand. You’ll spare yourself hundreds of calories and tons of sugar.

Find a Workout Routine You Love

While eating healthy is a big part of avoiding the freshman 15, adding more movement to your routine is just as important. Your workouts can be just as organized or freeform as you want. Find a gym routine you love, join an intramural team, or go running before class every morning. Just make sure you’re working your muscles and getting your blood pumping several times a week.

Know Your Triggers

Even when you develop a diet and exercise plan, certain events can disrupt your routine and cause get you off track. If you tend to overeat and under-exercise at certain times of the year or when you’re stressed, do your best to anticipate these events before they happen. Develop a game plan, such as scheduling gym time with a friend or stocking extra healthy snacks, to stay successful.

From dining hall specials to dinners out with friends, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to make unhealthy choices. But when you keep these tips in mind, you’ll keep yourself on a healthy track and resist weight.