I'm going to be honest here: I get stressed easily. From August to May, I am a full time college student; during that time I am a part of three different clubs and I am on the executive board for two of them; I am also in a sorority. This summer, I am working as an instructional assistant for the Transitional Living Program where I help young adults with special needs get jobs and learn how to live on their own. I would not trade my life for anything, but could you blame me if I get a little stressed out?
Stress and anxiety are natural feelings especially for high school and college students. There is no way to make them completely go away, but there are ways to help relieve it. Here are six things that work best for me when I am feeling a little stressed out.
Coloring
Okay, I know this sounds stupid, but there is something so satisfying about coloring. I know several people who do this when they are feeling stressed. One may associate this with something that a child does when he or she is bored, but you'd be surprised by how many adult coloring books are out there. If you don't want to spend money on a coloring book you could always print out a coloring sheet from your computer.
Reading a Book
This may sound cheesy but reading a book is a great way to escape the real world for a little while. As a kid and even now I love being able to open a book and imagine the world that is described to me. It really makes me forget about some of the work I have to do.
Watching Netflix
So this is an easy one. There are some days were I get home from work or class and I just want to shut my brain off for a few hours. Netflix is the best way for me to do that. Chill out watch a funny tv show or a movie and forget about your problems for an hour or two. However, I would not recommend this while studying for a test. Studies have proven that tv affects your short-term memory.
Calling Parents/Grandparents
College Students, you are killing two birds with one stone here. Your parents and grandparents love to hear from you. Whenever I am having a hard time with some of my school work, I call my grandmother. She is proud to be a distraction for a couple of minutes. Sometimes hearing someone else's voice is relaxing. You can talk about anything and not have to think about work.
Hanging out with Friends
Go out and do something fun! Even if it's something small like having lunch with someone you see every day. Your friends are the people that make you smile and laugh. Seeing them for just a couple of minutes can take some of the stress away.
Doing Any Other Work
Sometimes you have a lot of work to do and you cannot afford to take a break. That's okay. Sometimes when I am fed up with an assignment, I put it away and work on something else, preferably something a little bit easier. When I do this, I am still able to clear my mind of the work that was causing me to feel stressed.
