Stress. It is a daily thing. I guarantee someone you know is probably stressed about something as you are reading this. You may be the one stressed. It is all too easy to let the stress get the better of us. I remember I used to jokingly tell my friends that I stressed 30 hours a day. And, now that I've entered the college life, it seems stress follows me and my friends constantly. Sometimes, we are so stressed, it seems like we are in over our heads. Sooner or later, all that stress catches up and you feel like you can't take it any more. That's when it's time to de-stress. Get loose. Forget about school or work or sports practice or all those extracurriculars you HAVE to be involved in. So how do you unwind from all that stress? I'm not going to give you a list of "remedies that are sure to work". Everyone is different so I advise you to find your own outlet. If you're unsure of how to find your outlet, here are some ideas on where to begin:
What is something you enjoy doing for fun? For example, I love to read. I'd rather read a library book than a textbook any day. But, recently, I don't have much time to read for fun. So, I've started setting a little bit of time aside each evening for me to read. Doing that helps me unwind and de-stress.
Do you enjoy listening to music? Or playing an instrument? I am such a musical person. I started learning piano at age two. Since I am no longer able to take lessons, I frequently take my piano books to a practice room on campus and forget about my life for a good hour or two. Or I find some calming instrumental pieces or slow songs to listen to. (My roommate has figured out my moods by what music I'm playing). Maybe getting lost in music will help you de-stress.
What do you do to relax? Some people sleep, some people do yoga, some people just sit down and play a game on their phone. Or, if you're like me, you like to recline back and watch TV or a movie (both on a real screen and a phone). Try and find something that makes you fully relax.
As strange as this option sounds, have you ever thought about just sitting in a bathtub of warm water? I remember whenever I was sick or my allergies were being especially nasty, I would soak in the tub and that generally made me forget about how awful I was feeling. Or even going to the beach and getting your feet wet can be a stress reliever.
Are you artsy? Do you like drawing or doodling? Painting? I can't draw to save my life, but if you can, maybe that can be your outlet to de-stress. Take a break from homework and draw out how you feel. If you're on college campus, find a place where you can forget about your struggles and just paint. Or if paints are not your thing, get a coloring book.
My final outlet idea is to get away. Depending on what phase of life you are in, that could entail just spending an evening in your room by yourself. Or, it could mean take a joyride through the surrounding neighborhoods. Or, if you're on a college campus and close to home, maybe just go home for the night (or weekend) and take a break from the college campus. If you cannot go home easily from college, maybe just a trip to the local mall or nearby shop, not to buy anything (unless spending money de-stresses you), but just to get away from people, college, and that crazy college homework.
Those are just some ideas to help you find your outlet when you need to relieve yourself of some stress. Now, go out and forget about everything that's stressing you out.
