It’s week two and I already feel four weeks behind. The readings are piling up, and more due dates are being assigned amidst the chaos of club hiring, socializing, and generally adjusting to the university lifestyle. Feeling stressed? Well, you may as well drop out. KIDDING (but honestly, we all have those thoughts at the 50th hour of studying, trying to not accept the inevitable reality that we still know nothing).
I’m not here to tell you that a) it gets easier (c’mon, we’re in university people!), or b) you won’t experience stress (here’s a reality check: the real world is stressful). But I will tell you to put your notions that stress is entirely bad to rest, because it’s really not. Stress can actually be your own personal tool this year, a weapon of sorts, helping you battle your way through calculus, organic chemistry, or whatever insanity you may endure. Now how might this exhausting, tense feeling actually be beneficial to you?
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It makes you more efficient
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It acts as your motivator
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It allows you to find your unique ways of coping so that you can become resilient
The third point is what I want to emphasize here. Life can throw anything and everything at us at any time. Being able to react and handle stress properly can prepare us for major life events; however, we are in university, so we don’t have a whole lot of time to figure out which coping methods best suit our needs. To save you from the endless battle of figuring out what works and doesn’t work, I have composed a list of ways that you could go about relieving stress:
1. Accept the things you can control and those that you can’t
When certain events happen, such as receiving a poor mark on a test, rather than stressing yourself out, remember that it’s out of your control. You can control how much you study and how you study, but in the end, it’s the prof who decides your mark. Rather than dwelling on the past, turn your stress into energy that will allow you to improve in the future.
2. Find your safe space
Find a place (if you haven’t already) where you can relax and enter your inner “zen.” Your safe space can be anywhere from your room, to a cafe, to a car, and so on. (My safe space is on the local ferry, so it can be pretty much anywhere.)
3. Exercise
Whether it be a HIIT workout, lifting weights, or anything else that gets you moving, exercise makes you focus on what you’re doing in the present, forcing you to forget about all the stuff you have to deal with. It may be surprising, but you will actually feel more energized and focused upon working out (or even upon going for a walk, for that matter), which will allow you to tackle your problems better and more efficiently.
4. Party (or do something FUN)!
You can’t be doing work all the time, or else you will just burnout. The best way to take a break is to socialize and let loose. Remember, you only live once!
5. Journal
Sometimes getting everything down on paper can change your perspective on matters. Seeing both the positive and negative aspects of your life can help you focus more on the good. It can also make you prioritize what’s truly important, allowing you to accomplish your ultimate goals.
6. Sleep
Sleep is the number one way to escape the reality of your problems. More importantly, when you wake up, you’ll feel rejuvenated and ready to execute your to-do list. So when in doubt, take a nap!
How you handle stress this school year determines how you will feel and how well you will do. Bad stress leads to burnout; good stress leads to efficiency and resilience. It’s up to you to find your niche way of coping so that you can in fact utilize this powerful experience.