"It was the best of times; It was the worst of times."
Charles Dickens pretty much summed up college in the first line of "A Tale of Two Cities." College will have some of the best times of your life. It will also have some of the worst. Some of those "worst" moments can be all the stress you get surrounding all the classes, extra-curricular, and commitments you've made in a semester or year.
Maybe you have your own ways and ideas of getting rid of that unwanted stress. If so, good for you! If you need some help, though. You've come to the right place. Here are 5 different ways that I've found to be helpful when things get a little too overwhelming sometimes.
1. Exercise.
If you're anything like me, sometimes exercising feels like the last thing you should be doing. My to-do list of responsibilities is usually way too long for that. In any case, taking at least 20 minutes a day to do something active can help reduce stress. Make the activity something you love to do anyway. Take a stroll, ride a bike, or go kick/punch the crap out of a punching bag at the gym.
2. Sleep.
As college students, we know how hard it can be to go to bed at a decent hour. Sometimes that essay or project requires attention until 2, 3, even 4a.m. Other times we're just having fun with friends and don't even realize what time it is. However, you probably know this already but, that is definitely unhealthy. Adults typically need seven to nine hours of sleep. Keeping your internal clock aligned with the sun clock is also very important. Deciding to sleep from 8a.m. to 2p.m. is not recommended. Do what you can to get the rest you need. It not only helps lower stress, but also prevents other health issues.
3. Do something you enjoy.
You're busy. You're stressed. As much as it might kill you to take a break, do it. Take some time and go outside. Find a spot and read something other than a textbook. Gather some friends and go to the movies, go shopping, or go hike a nearby trail. Everything you have to do will still be there when you get back. Staring at it for hours on end is not going to get it done any faster. Give yourself a breather.
4. Organize yourself.
If this accurately depicts how you feel, maybe it's time to get organized. Not being organized can bring on it's own stress. Buy a planner, write down any and all deadlines, figure out when the best times for you to study are and when the best time is for some fun. Organization is key to being able to being somewhat stress free.
5. Deep-Breathing.
As cliche as it sounds, it actually works. Take a few minutes and breathe. TIME magazine list some breathing exercises that you might find useful. You can always look up your own. Even just stopping what you're doing, taking a deep breathe through your nose, pausing for a moment, and then releasing through your mouth slowly a couple of times, can make a difference.
These are just five examples of the many out there on how to reduce your stress. If these don't work, find something that does. Never give up. If you don't remember anything I've said so far, always remember this,
"Stressed spelled backwards is desserts." - Loretta Laroche
