As students, we all know that around mid-September, the stresses of balancing school work, relationships, friends, and sleep all congeal and magnify into one giant ball of “AAAGH”. More and more assignments start piling up and you’re too stressed to tackle them so you push them aside until the very last second. In addition, there are multiple clubs you want to join and events you want to attend, so now there are more time commitments to make, as well as new friends to make and keep.
Balancing everything can be really difficult, especially if you’re like me and want to lay on your bed and stare at the ceiling when stressed instead of completing assignments. The stress can seem like too much and it might make you want to give up. I’ve realized that this will not fly with assignment due dates and keeping time commitments. Over the course of my short life so far, I have found some useful ways to de-stress and to help get myself back on track. Here are five of them:
1) Listen to Music
I am a big believer in the power of music. Most artists are really wonderful at conveying emotion and tone in their music. Listening to such artists can change your mood and distract your thoughts from what you were stressing over before. Happy, upbeat music especially can help distract your mind because all you will want to do is dance around your room. And hey, a mini dance party never hurts.
2) Go For a Walk
Exercise does a body good, even if it's a leisurely walk around the school. Walking is great because you get your body moving, as well as your mind. You can't help but focus on everything around you because there is so many new stimulations coming in from all directions. Walking is a good way to remove yourself from stressing over an essay while hunched over your computer, to moving your body outside for however brief or long a time.
3) Write Those Stresses Out
This is why a lot of people keep journals. I know for myself, writing out exactly what I'm stressed about helps get it out of my mind so I can focus on the actual task at hand. Purging every thought that's keeping you from being focused will let you separate what needs to be in your mind in the present moment, and what doesn't.
4) Make a To-Do List
There are few things that feel better than crossing off tasks from a to-do list. Make a list and order the assignments/meeting/etc. in order of urgency (top priority at the top of the list, and so on). Breaking down the mass of tasks into baby-steps and physically seeing what needs to be done really helps getting thoughts in order. When you are able to go down the list and cross off what you have completed, you will realize the end of your stress is just around the corner.
5) Plow Through It
Another way to help reduce your stress about time and assignments is to just get things done. Pick one thing and just do it. This is sometimes easier said than done, but attacking everything one-by-one will reduce the mess. Imagine this as slowly picking away at a rock to reveal a lovely geode inside; it will suck at first, but slowly and surely the beauty (minimal stress) will be revealed!
