Everyone has been stressed out at least once in their life. Anyone who knows me knows I am always stressed out, whether it be from school, work or calling to make a doctor’s appointment. Throughout all my stress I have learned methods for handling it well so I can get my things done. 1. Go for a run (or go to the gym)
I am a huge runner since I used to play soccer, and ever since then I fell in love with running. It is a way for me to blast my music and just focus on myself and trying to complete those two miles with a better time than the last. Exercising in general increases your endorphin level which gives you an overall positive feeling, which will help you get that overload of homework done.
2. Meditation
I recently discovered meditation and it has helped me tremendously. When people think of meditation they tend to think of these people who are at peace with the world and just love life, so they laugh when they think of it. I have done it several times when my stress and anxiety is through the roof, and when I say it changes my mood completely, it truly does. It relaxes, grounds you and lets you become focused. I recommend the app Headspace for people who are interested in trying meditation but are not sure how to go about it. The app slowly allows you to integrate meditation into your daily routine (and it’s free!).
3. Call your mom (or a close friend)
My mom is one of my best friends and knows me better than most people. Whenever I get stressed, I pick up the phone and call her because I know she will be able to calm me down. Just venting to someone helps a great amount instead of just bottling everything up inside.
4. Write in a journal
I recently discovered the relaxation I get from keeping a journal. I am not a fan of writing really long papers for class. In a journal, however, I am able to write freely and write exactly what I feel like writing about. In your journal, you have the ability to do whatever you want. You can draw pictures or write one long run on sentence; no one looks at it or judges what you are writing about. It is a really freeing thing to do that allows you to just focus on you.
5. Plan your day
If you wake up and instantly feel overwhelmed by all the things to do, do not freak out- that is the worst thing you could do. Instead, plan your day out on a white board or on a piece of paper. Just list the things you have to do for the day that are first priority and give each part a time frame for the day to get it done. Plan for 10 minute breaks in-between sections and do not forget to schedule time to eat meals, keeping you energized and productive.