It's finally October (spooky season, y'all). Fall Break has come and gone all too soon. The mid semester stress has set in once again. It's gloomy. Binge-eating and drinking coffee are quickly becoming a number one priority. Being stressed is an all too familiar part of college, but experiencing physical or mental exhaustion due to overworking ourselves and stress is not. Taking time to unwind will help keep stress at bay. Here are 3 of my personal favorites on how to de compress after a hectic day.
Set limits for yourself and learn to say no!
https://tenor.com/view/nobody-got-time-for-that-gif-10243842
Learn to say no to requests that would create excessive stress in your life. My go to motto is, "If it's going to make things more complicated...don't." Maybe going out on that Tuesday night (we've all been there) isn't as important as finishing up that project and studying for a really important exam. Relying on alcohol or drugs is just an easy fix for an ever growing problem. Take some time for a little self TLC and you'll feel a lot better when the Sunday scaries roll around again to take their weekly victims. Learn to manage time more effectively by writing down your top 5 priorities each day, and taking time before bed to re-visit what you accomplished.
Accept that there are events that you simply cannot control, but don’t let your emotions get the best of you
https://www.google.com/search?q=don%27t+freak+out+orange+is+the+new+black+gif&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiq_ILlvYveAhXBdN8KHQwmDUYQ_AUIDigB&biw=764&bih=699#imgrc=LEoX0K8djq0bKM:
Sounds simple, but definitely not easy. Keep a positive attitude and stay the course. Getting frustrated over those deadlines isn't going to change what they are. Be assertive instead of aggressive – assert your feelings, opinions, or beliefs instead of becoming angry defensive or passive. Reign in your emotions when you feel them starting to boil over and know that this too shall pass. Attempt to express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If you find yourself needing to study and your chatty roommate just burst through your door with the latest gossip, say up front that you only have five minutes to catch up. Reframe your problems and look at the big picture. How important will this matter in 5, 10, or 15 years? Practice gratitude and reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts. This strategy will help keep things in perspective.
Learn and practice your own personalized relaxation techniques
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=the+office+yoga+gif&chips=q:the+office+yoga+gif,online_chips:dwight,online_chips:spin+class&usg=AI4_-kT_Q1EdCTZfzFcAGNW6cH_svZp91Q&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj43N6lvYveAhVqneAKHakxD3AQ4lYIKCgA&biw=764&bih=699&dpr=1#imgrc=5c83-fS05-TAZM:
When you're stressed the last thing you probably want to do is get up and exercise, but physical activity is a huge stress reliever – and you don't have to be an athlete or spend hours in a gym to experience the benefits. Exercise releases endorphins that make you feel good, and it can also serve as a valuable distraction from your daily worries. Try mediating for 10 minutes a day, a new yoga class, or rhythmic activities like running or cycling that can help burn away tension and stress. Even just focusing on coordinating your breathing with your movements or noticing how the air or sunlight feels on your skin adds mindfulness to break out the cycle of negative thoughts that often accompanies overwhelming stress.