Stress is a very prominent topic in the world of college, because when you graduate high school and go off to college, you have a lot of responsibilities. Between studying, figuring out how to pay for tuition and being away from home, I have dealt with a lot of stress since I have started college. There are many parts of our lives that cause stress, like work, school, bills, children, cars and the daily news. We see many tragedies occurring every day, and even though not all of them are even happening to us, it causes stress and anxiety. Some of us do not know how to handle stress, but there really are so many ways to feel better, and here are five of them.
1. Think positively.
Many people think that so many complex things go into feeling better, but honestly, if you have a positive attitude, you are likely to feel so much better. Life is so hard, but we make it so much harder on ourselves by thinking so negatively all the time. This is something I tell everyone all the time, but I rarely do it myself. I'm trying very hard to start thinking positively again, because it really does help so much.
2. Manage your time wisely.
Making sure that you can handle your schedule and that it is well organized is very important. Having a busy schedule can be very stressful, but if it is managed correctly, you will be under a lot less stress. I learned this the hard way last semester because I tried to fit so many things into my schedule that I couldn't handle everything. Being a busy person is hard, but it can be made much easier if you have a well organized schedule. One of the easiest ways to manage your schedule well is to keep a calendar. I tend to use Google Calendar, which is extremely helpful because you can plan each part of your day. This is especially helpful during the school year so you can look at your schedule and make sure you'll have time for studying, working, and making time to have fun as well! This was suggested to me by a very good friend at school and it made me so much less stressed during classes.
3. Don't be afraid to turn down plans.
If you are too busy or to stressed to go somewhere, don't ever be afraid to say no. Sometimes you will have too much on your plate and you just need to stay home, and that is OK. There will always be days where you will need time to yourself, or just plain need time, so don't ever feel bad about that because it is perfectly normal.
4. Get enough rest.
Don't forget to get enough sleep each night. Resting every night is very important. When you sleep, your body has time to help replenish the energy you have used throughout the day. Sleep may seem like a waste of time because you have so many other important things to do, but sleep is very important for your mind and body to function properly. Many of us lose sleep due to stress, which is ironic because getting the proper amount of sleep helps to combat the effects of stress on the mind and the body. It is very important, especially in college, to get sleep. I mean, look how happy that baby is in the picture, that could be you if you get the right amount of sleep.
5. Make time for having fun!
Making time for things that you enjoy is one of the most important things you can do to minimize stress. No matter what it is that you enjoy, whether it be spending time with family and friends, volunteering, listening to music, or playing a sport, it is important to make time for it in your day to day life. Being able to relax is crucial if you want to be less stressed about life!
I hope these things helped others who are feeling stressed lately just as much as they have helped me. I am someone who is constantly anxious and stressed about the smallest things, so it helps to have some simple ways that can help a tremendous amount. College is a very hectic time in life, but it is worth every moment of worry for each thing that you accomplish there.
