Stress is a major problem throughout the United States, especially for college students. According to stress.lovetoknow.com/Statistics_on_College_Student_Stress, the Associated Press and mtvU came up with a survey that recorded college students' stress levels. These answers were from many colleges throughout the country. This survey showed that 4 out of 10 college students feel stressed often, and 1 out of 5 say they feel stressed most of the time.
When you think about it, that is A LOT of young adults. Guess what? I am one of those young adults.
I've always been a victim to stress, but it has gotten extremely worse over the past 2 years. Money can get tight at times, classes can get overwhelming, and things can happen one after the other out of my control. Sometimes, I get close to freaking out; however, I'm starting to get better with coping with the pressure. I always seek out different methods or ways to de-stress. So far, it's been a success!
For all of the stressed people out there, this is to help you! Here are 30 awesome ways to relieve stress!
1. Write.
Writing, personally, helps me with my feelings. It's a way of getting everything out! Write about what's bothering you or what's on your mind. You should start to feel a little better. If not, try writing a make-believe story or a narrative! Set your brain to creative mode! It will get your mind off of everything.
2. Eliminate the negatives, and consider the positives.
What I tend to do is think about the worst care scenario of different situations. For example: "Money is my biggest worry right now. What if I run out?" That is most definitely a negative thought. The key words were "what" and "if". Instead of thinking about what might happen negatively, try sorting out all the positive outcomes that could come from this situation. For instance: "Money is the biggest obstacle right now. What should I do to fix that? What are the options for me?" Much better! Someone special taught me this trick (and I can't thank him enough for it!).
3. Color.
Whether you're an artist or not, go find a coloring book and start shading. Focus on being neat with it and not messing up. Stay in the lines. I'm not an artist, but I do love coloring. The bright colors make me feel better. Stick to the brighter colors instead of the darker colors. If you don't own a coloring book, that's okay! Use a canvas if you have paint, or grab some plain white paper to scribble on.
4. Exercise.
This is a big one. Working out is a HUGE stress-reliever. Personally, I love to run or lift some weights. I do arm, chest, and leg workouts. If you're not a big fan, go outside and get some fresh air by taking a long walk. It should help. Think about what you see, instead of thinking about your current worries.
5. Take a bath or a shower.
Warm up the tub, if you have one. Drop a bath bomb in there and make some bubbles. Don't make the water too hot. Sit in there for a little while and clear your mind. I love to prop my phone up and watch Netflix. If you just have a stand-up shower, that's fine. Stand there under the water and close your eyes. Just feel the water hit your head, and run through your hair and on your body. Lather up. Use more shampoo and/or body wash than usual. Have fun with it! I promise you, you'll feel better!
6. Bake.
Baking is a great way to decrease your stress. I love working in the kitchen. You'll find me prepping some chocolate brownies or some banana bread. So go do that! Who cares? Make a mess. And hey, you deserve to lick the batter off of those beaters.
7. Go to the beach.
This might just be for me because I know that some of you might not really live near a beach. But go find a place near water. Go there and take some deep breaths. Watch the current carefully. Follow it, and imagine that that current is all of your problems floating away. Let go. "Carve your worries in the sand and free them to the tides."
8. Take in nature.
Find a nature path and walk through it. Embrace the world around you. Look at the trees, listen to the birds, and watch the leaves fall.
9. Purchase a Damn-It Doll.
I actually have one of these. I received it for my birthday. I have it here in my apartment at school. Since I am stressed ALL THE TIME, I use it whenever I'm worried or even angry with someone or something. What you basically do is hit the doll really hard on something. I smack the doll on my bed multiple times until the wrath is drained. It really does help.
10. Cry.
Listen. It's okay to cry. Honestly, coming from me, please trust me. I cry all the time over nothing. Whenever you feel like things aren't going your way, sob. When the world is crashing down, let the tears roll. Let it out! It's healthy.
11. Watch a funny movie or TV show.
This is a good one. Take advantage of this. Personally, I am a comedy person. I love comedy movies and hilarious TV shows. Ron Burgundy makes me crack up in the newsroom. The Impractical Jokers save me. It's like I'm not worried about anything!
12. Meditate. Pray.
Sit up straight in the "Indian-style" position. Find ways to clear that cloudy mind of yours. I don't know too much about meditation; so if you're all about it, apply that knowledge. However, I know how to pray, because I do it often. I usually just get on my knees and fold my hands, like the typical way. But if you're spiritual and you feel like you need a pick-me-up, talk to God. He'll totally help and give you some answers.
13. Read.
Picking up a nice novel is a great way to detach your mind from everything else going on. Come on, get into it! Focus really hard on the story, and get to the point where you feel absolutely 100% motivated to finish it in a day's time.
14. Treat yourself, but not too often.
Go get a manicure/pedicure, or go buy something cool for your car. But watch out. Don't spend too much. This de-stress method actually comes with a catch. According to www.cnbc.com, the majority of Americans (64%) stress over money. That's huge. I'm part of that 64%! I worry about money too much. It's okay to treat yourself to something nice every once in a while, but don't get into a habit of it.
15. Do NOT procrastinate.
Oh boy, this stinks. Procrastinating is the worst, especially when it comes to school work. I'm not going to lie: I'm actually procrastinating syllabus week homework so I can complete this fantastic article. But on a serious note, do not procrastinate. This will continuously add unnecessary weight on you. You'll instantly regret it. Don't put anything off until the last minute. You won't feel great. Instead, work on assignments the day they are assigned. In the end, you'll feel accomplished! Also, don't forget to give your brain some breaks!
16. Go to church.
This isn't for everyone. I've been doing this more often in the past 2 years. Again, if you are spiritual or religious, I would take this into consideration. Listen to the sermons. Sing the hymns. Think about Jesus and talk to God as often as possible. He'll listen. You'll feel at peace in such a positive environment.
17. Jam it out.
Play some of your favorite tunes off of your Spotify! If you feel angry, listen to angry songs. If you are sad, it's okay to listen to sad songs. But add some dancing into it, if you can or want to. Shake that gunk out!
18. Organize your bedroom or closet.
I love organizing! Organization is my middle name. Straightening up your room or closet space is essential because usually, having a cluttered room leads to having a cluttered mind. Organizing everything will eliminate at least one of your problems, and then you'll have one less thing to worry about.
19. Clean.
Basically just re-read #18. Cleaning is awesome as well, if you like getting down and dirty. The way I see it is: scrubbing the scum and dirt away is like scrubbing away a worry.
20. Play with your pet(s).
Spend some down time with your puppy or cuddle with your cat. I wouldn't know what that feels like, but most of you probably do! They are there to help you and love you. Appreciate that!
21. Blow some bubbles.
Find some bubbles and be a kid again! Each bubble you blow is one worry you currently have. Watch it float away, and then suddenly pop. The popping of the bubble is the stress disappearing!
22. Laugh.
Do it. I love laughing! It's one of my favorite things to do. Start out with a giggle, then keep building up and up. Laugh until it becomes the loudest cackle you've ever heard! Laugh until your stomach hurts (that's the best!).
23. Reach out to an old friend.
Call or text someone you used to be close to. Maybe this re-connection will make you feel at ease and calm. I know it does for me. It's nice to get things out and have someone listen to you and support you.
24. Arrive at your appointments early.
Some of you might be like, "Why is this a method of relieving my worries? It seems silly." Well, it's nothing like getting to your doctor/dentist/what have you appointments late and getting all bent out of shape. Get to your appointments early, so you don't have to stress about hurrying up and backing up the entire doctor's office. It's one thing at a time, and take your time too. That's key. Early is on time. On time is late. Late is unacceptable. (Well, at least for me.)
25. Do some yard work.
If you have a front and/or backyard, do some touch-ups. Grab that rake, leaf blower, and planting soil. Adding flowers and pulling weeds are workouts in themselves. These will all clear your head for sure.
26. Get a dry-erase board.
This seems different from the others. Why am I suggesting to you to buy a dry-erase board? I have one hanging in my dorm room, and I use as a motivator. Every day, I write a new encouraging quote, along with the date. "Everything will be okay. January 19th, 2017." "This too shall pass. January 20th, 2017." (Ironically, I chose that quote just because. Not because of the Trump Inauguration. Oops.) Anyway, the point is that you should let that help you. You could also write a to-do list on it, and check everything off as you go along! That also feels amazing!
27. Go swimming.
Find a local pool in the winter or summer. If you have a pool, that's even better. Spend time in there working on your strokes for a full body workout, or just float at the top. Close your eyes and smile. Let the water carry you.
28. You deserve that milkshake, so go get it. BUT...
Yes, I know you're craving that chocolate shake. Screw it! Go get it, silly. Seriously, though, food can help but TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. Never EVER stress eat. Some people are too worked up with everything that they forget to eat, like me. You need to eat meals. But do not overeat. Some people are too worked up that they eat too much. That's not the way to go. However, you can still cave every once in a while and get that treat when your sweet tooth calls for it.
29. Find a stress ball and squeeze it with all of your might.
Squeeze it until you don't have any feeling or your hand cramps up. I have a stress ball, but it's also just as effective as a Damn-It Doll.
30. Every morning, walk to your mirror and look at your reflection.
This is important. When you wake up, make your way to a mirror. Look yourself in the eye. Say something good about yourself. Set a daily goal and make sure you work towards it. "I'm awesome, and I'm going to get all of my assignments done today in increments so I can have a care-free weekend." Boom. Do this every day, and your life will change. You are important. You are awesome. YOU matter!!!
I already know that some will not agree with some of these methods. But hey, that's why I gave you 30 instantly, off the bat. Don't shoot the messenger. Try and come up with your own awesome methods of stress relief too! :)
I understand that the going can get tough, but have the tough get going. You can do it! Enjoy these stress-busters, and I hope they help! :)
-One of the Stressed
