As college students, we often are consumed with the feeling of being overwhelmed and end up stressing ourselves out over a number of things. While it is unavoidable to be stressed out every so often, too much stress can wear you down and make you sick, both mentally and physically. Fortunately for us, being stressed is something we all can control and here are a few techniques on how you can keep your stress levels to a minimum and take a breather.
1. Don’t Stress About Being Stressed
The worst way to handle stress is to get more stressed. Don’t overload yourself with other people’s problems on top of your issues. It’s okay to take a step back and focus on yourself for a little while, especially if you are stressed and your academics are at risk. When stressed out, try to organize your life and thoughts and figure out how to efficiently handle it. Focusing too much on problems will only make things seem worse.
2. Get Some Sleep
As college students and young adults, we all know how crazy our sleeping patterns can become. To help get all the sleep needed for you to fully function and stay sane, try getting at least 7 hours of sleep a day. It is important to get more sleep in order to help your mind refocus, recharge, and re-balance. Sometimes getting one good night’s sleep can be all you need to hit the ground running amidst a stressful time.
3. Get Some Food
Similar to our sleeping habits, our eating habits begin to fall to the wayside when we get overly stressed. Having improper nutrition can cause your body extra stress and make you feel drained (on top of making you gain or lose weight). Go eat something balanced and healthy: fruits and veggies, whole grains, protein. Eat good stuff! Your body will thank you!
4. Get Some Exercise
If you’re feeling stressed, it may be that you need to try exercising to relieve some of that stress. Exercise releases endorphins, which have been shown to improve one’s mood, making it a great way to deal with stress! Exercise doesn’t necessarily have to involve 2 hours at the gym working out until you pass out. Try taking a soothing, 30-minute walk while listening to your favorite music or taking a swim to also keep you relaxed as you work out. Imagine how much better you’ll feel!
5. Get Some Quiet Time
Personal space for students in college rarely exists. Try taking some time without your cell phone, friends, or TV to find a few moments of peace and quiet. Stepping out from the crazy college environment for a few moments can do wonders for reducing your stress and might be just what you need.
6. Get Some Social Time and Have Fun
Contrary to the last trick, being social can also be a stress reliever. Your brain is like a muscle, and even it needs a break every once in a while! Maintaining a social life is an important part of your college experience and sometimes a little break from schoolwork to interact with others can be exactly what you need to relax.
You’ll be surprised by how relax you’ll feel after following these simple stress-reducing techniques. Hope this helped. HCXO!