Before I get started, I have to do something important:
Whew. Sorry. Just had to let that out.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m stressed—constantly. School is draining, responsibilities are exhausting. I have tests and assignments, weekly tasks, chores, things to edit and stuff to write. I want to do things like watch movies and read the books on my TBR (to be read) list, but I have to prioritize school and my grades, even just writing all this down is making my head spin! It feels like Billy Joel’s “Pressure” is the theme song of my life.
Sometimes we all just need to pause, freeze everything for a second, and destress. Y’know, to stay sane. So I decided to compile some tips for myself (and you) to help us all deal with all the mind-boggling stress in our lives.
Here are just a few things you can do in order to stop stressing TF out:
- Catch Those Z’s (Get some sleep!)
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Sleep? Pfft, what’s that?
Yes, all our sleep schedules are, well, pretty much nonexistent these days. As I’m sure most of us know, sleep and stress are linked and can greatly affect one another.
If you don’t get enough sleep, the levels of stress hormones in your body increases since the chemicals in your brain that are linked to deep sleep are—wait for it—the same ones that tell your body to stop producing stress hormones. Therefore, when you don’t get enough sleep, your body simply continues to produce those hormones, thus only making you more stressed each day and makes it more difficult to sleep each night, trapping you in an endless cycle of tension and sleep deprivation.
To avoid that, like we’d all heard back in elementary school, it is recommended that you get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. (Yes, that much!) It might be time to start avoiding those all-nighters.
- Turn Off Your Brain (Stop overthinking!)
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I know, I know: talk about easier said than done.
Sometimes, your brain just gets away from you and you start thinking too much, telling yourself to calm down which only stresses you out even more—that’s when you know that you’re overthinking and by that point your mind is more in control of you than you of it and that just—gah!
On top of driving you crazy, overthinking can be detrimental to both your physical and mental health. (Did that stress you out even more? Sorry.)
Just for a second, try to empty your mind. Just breathe.
In.
And out.
Don’t let your mind run too far. Focus on what’s happening right now. What’s right in front of you. Don’t worry about the however-many things you have to do in the future. If you do, your mind will never be at ease.
Remember: it’s not always do or die. Every other thing that you’ve faced in the past where you’ve had these exact same thoughts, these exact same feelings, you came out the other side. You can do it again.
- Get Movin’ (Get some exercise!)
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Exercise has the ability to both lower the number of stress hormones in your body and release endorphins, which can improve your mood.
However, if you’re like me, just seeing the word “exercise” is enough to make you groan before you even start. The thought alone of doing up & down planks and burpees is too much. Be that as it may, exercise doesn’t just have to be intense workouts—any kind of physical activity is great!
Personally, I prefer taking walks with my friends for a change of scenery. (Which, unfortunately, has been limited nowadays—thanks a lot, pandemic!) If you want something faster and more intense, try dance—pull up your favourite BTS choreography and give it a go! Something calmer? Try yoga. And, for an in-between, maybe go for a jog.
This link has some more information and a list of great exercises you can try to reduce stress.
- Take a Chill Pill (Give yourself a break!)
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What?! And just stop doing my homework and fail all my tests?! Blasphemy!
Look, I know what it feels like to feel guilty when you wanna take some time for yourself but—repeat after me, now—downtime isn’t a crime!
Take some you-time—even just a few minutes can do wonders.
Listen to some music. Write. Watch TV. (Personally, I like to go with How I Met Your Mother for the millionth time or Supernatural.) Whatever it is that can take your mind off things for a second, go do it. Just put that darn homework away and do something fun. (If you were looking for a sign, there you have it. You’re welcome.)
- Surround Yourself With Love (Spend time with friends and family!)
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A great way to reduce stress is to not be alone while dealing with it. Surround yourself with the people you love most.
The “tend and befriend” effect, mainly affecting women, refers to the release of oxytocin, a natural stress-reliever, in one’s body when they spend time with friends. This effect is the opposite of the fight-or-flight response when dealing with stress.
I can especially vouch for this tip. (Shoutout to my friends for being the best people ever.) Being around my friends is one of the things that makes me happiest. Even nowadays, when I can’t see them face-to-face, just an alert on my phone with their name makes me smile and, a lot of the time, helps me relax, even just a little.
Being around other people can help you forget about everything that was once bothering you and, more often than not, they may also be able to help or even relate to what you’re going through.
Of course, these are just a few tips—different people deal with stress differently and there are countless ways to do so.
Some of you may be thinking that none of this will help. Hell, you’ve probably read all these tips a million times before and thought it was all nonsense. But here’s the thing: nothing will help you if you close off your mind to even the smallest possibility of help or relaxation. You have to be willing and open—cut yourself some slack and allow yourself to relax. Trust me, you deserve it.