As many inventors and engineers have found out, a variety of machines need a way to release pressure. For trains, it's the smoke stack. For boilers, it's the chimney. For cars, it' the exhaust pipe. The human body is indeed a majestic machine. If we run with the simile of the human body being like a machine, one tends to question how we release our steam. To be honest, there is no exact way (I'm not talking about gas in that context), but if one thing is for sure, we need one. Life has a way of building up pressure in our minds, chances are that you experience pressure build up (also known as stress) just about every single day. Certain events and every day occurrences such as classes, homework, your job, problems with your boss, tests, problems with your significant other, your daily drive home from work...the list could go on and on. Speaking from experience, do not let it build up. You need a form of fun and way to release the stress of your everyday life. There was one point in time when I decided I was going to focus really hard on my studying and cut back on my fun time (partying, spending time with friends, etc.), which was a huge mistake. My grades suffered and I became very irritable. Needless to say, I reinstated what I deemed to be my fun time and my grades shot right back up. I had the best of intentions for my grades but the pressure build up only had a small release during the day, which was my workout. The problem I kept running into was that my workout would release a little bit of my stress every day but it would build up and needed a way to be cut completely loose at the end of the day or week.

By no means am I endorsing partying, I'm just letting people know one of the things that worked for me. Stress just has a way of building up and having negative effects on our body. Life isn't a "cookie-cutter approach," and there are many forms of "release valves" in life, such as lifting weights, running, hitting the heavy bag, any form of physical activity, hanging out with friends, going for a drive at the end of the day, dancing, painting, singing, venting to friends, keeping a journal, taking a brief vacation, reading, meditation, taking a hot bath or shower, the list can go on and on. Some of you out there may already have release valves, and that's great, keep those going! For those of you out there who are feeling stress build up in your life, find a release valve activity to partake in everyday. Life is more enjoyable when it's stress-free!