They tell us some stress is a good thing. For example, worrying about the Anatomy final you have to take in less than 12 hours that your grade depends on, or thinking, "Did I turn the oven off?". When you're a student, or you're in your twenties, or if you spend your days working like crazy, the bad stress sets in and seems to creep into every part of your life. Sometimes life gets so overwhelming that it feels like stress just snowballs. Don't worry, we have all been in that place, and let me tell you, sleeping on the floor of the library after being awake for 48+ hours and running on espresso, gummy worms, and whatever is in your backpack is no fantasy. Here are some musts when your life just gets too in the way.
1. Breathe
Take a breath and take a break. You would be surprised at how much ten minutes of watching funny videos, or walking around outside can do for your mind. Switch it up when you study or work so your brain doesn't get bored. Just sit and stop thinking for a bit, clear out all that junk!
2. Make Time for FUN!
No matter how dedicated you are to the task at hand, or how motivated you are to make sure everything is perfect, there is always room to let loose. Put time on your schedule to do something you enjoy. Whether it be going out with friends, going hiking, or even going to get some ice cream with your girlfriends, you need it. Make it a point not to talk or even think about school, or things that are stressing you out.
3. Get Some Sleep
You may not notice after a while, but you're most likely not getting near enough sleep that any person needs to function. Catching some extra Z's is not only one of my favorite past times, it can help clear up your skin, give you more energy, a better attitude, and more brain power so you can take on the task at hand.
4. Exercise
So running or Zumba may not be your thing, but moving your body is so necessary for your physical and mental health. If you can manage to fit a walk around campus, or a few laps around the neighborhood with your dog, it can do miles of good. Once you get those endorphins flowing your mood and your body will thank you.
5. Put Good in
I know when I barely have time to remember to eat, that not everything I can get my hands on is exactly what it should be. When you forget to balance those pizza rolls with an apple and some protein after a while, your body and immune system will feel it.
6. Change up Your Routine
For some of us a routine and a schedule (or a Lilly planner) is so important to keeping things in line. After a while you may get stuck in a tedious daily pattern of hustling around trying to make sure it all gets done. The library can start to haunt you after the many nights you had to stay awake there. If you were planning on studying an extra hour and some of your friends are going to a soccer game, don't be afraid to take a break or take your flash cards with you. Go study at Starbucks, or in the backyard, or get a group of people together. Having people study with you makes it not seem all that bad.
7. Set Yourself up for Success
Take some extra time in the middle of the week to organize your thoughts. Clean out your backpack, your binders, and even your room. Writing everything you need to do on paper makes it seem overwhelming until you start crossing things off. Having an organized living area and having your study materials separated will give your brain more room to organize the information for your test that week.
8. Get rid of the Negative
When you read the words negative influence, and there is a certain thing or person you think of, you should probably reconsider if you it is necessary. Whether it be a relationship, a habit, a thought, or an experience, it needs to go. I can't just stop being friends with some people because they have a negative attitude, but making what they say and act like influence your life is detrimental. Think about all you have that makes you happy everyday and if it's not on that list, it shouldn't be in your mind.
Hopefully after trying a few of these, your life will be so much easier to balance. Stress is hard to stay away from, but if you learn the right way to handle it for yourself, it can make all the difference.
