College is one of the most stressful times in someone’s life. With countless projects, arduous exams, long texts to read, and not enough time to do it all, how could someone not be stressed?
According to researchers from the American College Health Association (ACHA), 44.9% of college students deal with “more than average” stress daily. Consequently, the impact on young adults’ health can be disastrous, including things such as hypertension, chronic headaches, and lack of concentration.
It’s important to keep in mind that the college experience should be about discovering yourself and learning new things and not determined by a gray cloud of stress and worry. We have gathered some tips and recommendations on how to deal with this difficult period and enjoy it more.
1. Try a physical activity
It is common knowledge that athletics can improve your physical health, however, many researchers show that physical activities can help mental health and even improve school performance. Even more, exercise controls the emotional and physical feelings of stress, it can ward off the ill effects of chronic stress and reverse them. Various sports, dance or even just going on a walk, everything is valid as long as you move.
2. Practice Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
If you are constantly stressed you may have noticed that your muscles are always tense, causing an unpleasant feeling. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is an anxiety and stress reduction technique that aims to relax your muscles and improve your breathing.
The steps are easy and once learned they can be done anywhere. You can learn more about it here.
3. Make a playlist
If you are a music lover like me, this will probably be your favorite tip. Music is one of the most powerful resources invented by human beings. It can influence mood, induce behavior, or even help in stress management. According to current findings at Stanford University, music around 60 beats per minute can cause the brain to synchronize with the beat causing alpha brainwaves, which are present when we are relaxed and conscious.
Make a playlist with all your favorite songs and artists, whatever makes you feel more relaxed and happy. Listen to it before an important test, after delivering a task, or simply when feeling overwhelmed by life. An extra tip is to make a collaborative playlist with all your friends, then you can all add new songs and listen together.
4. Try healthy snacks
Whenever we are feeling strained we tend to let it go with food, looking for pastry or over-processed food. However, a balanced diet can support the extra energy needed to cope with stressful events, for example, late-night studies. A good start is to switch chocolate and puffed snacks for fruits or homemade snacks, like overnight oats.
5. Law of Attraction
If you are a social media user, you have probably heard about the law of attraction, a philosophy based on the belief that thoughts are a form of energy, suggesting that positive thoughts bring positive results into a person’s life.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information research on self-affirmation concludes that “this work suggests that if self-affirmation can reduce stress, it may also promote problem-solving performance under high-stress conditions.”
The philosophy can be practiced by visualizing or writing your goals, positive affirmations, or by reframing negative events more positively. Therefore, when you feel overwhelmed by school work or feel like you can’t do it all, take a minute to breathe in and try to see a more positive outcome.
——————————————–
The article above was written by Maria Eduarda Ticianeli and edited by Carolina Azevedo. Like this type of content? Check out Her Campus Casper Libero for more!