Throughout college, our commitments to campus activities and academics result in varying amounts of stress to manage on top of making time for increasing piles of work, socializing with friends, maintaining healthy relationships, athletics and family. Healthy stress management is a key to enjoying your college experience fully and freely. Here are some tips to get you through a tough week while helping you take it to the next level in all areas of life.
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Pack a healthy snack to avoid irritation and to help keep you focused during those long lectures. If you have a tight-packed schedule that makes it difficult to sit down and enjoy a meal, you may be tempted to grab an unhealthy option that will make you crash later. My go-to snack is a mixture of banana, peanut butter, honey and black chia seeds.
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Cry. Crying releases all of that bottled-up stress, anger and frustration in healthy way. Surprisingly enough, it also releases endorphins!
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Take some “me time”—no matter how small. Fully stretching or doing yoga can help you unwind while increasing the elasticity of your muscles. Taking an hour to work on a hair mask, try a new hair/makeup tutorial, or clean and organize your room and planner can make a big difference!
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Avoid crawling into bed and taking naps. Naps may make it harder for you to sleep throughout the night and increase the possibility of waking up groggy. Dabbing a bit of lavender essential oil on your pillowcase or listening to soothing music can help you relax and drift off into a peaceful sleep.
- Vent sessions. Find a close friend, grab some snacks and head off campus. Step back and think of the best way to move forward with your life—with your BFF’s advice, of course!