Have a paper due tomorrow that you've barely started on? Maybe an exam in Organic Chemistry this Friday and you thought a benzene ring was something Kim Kardashian would wear? Your roommate is being louder than a dump truck going trough a nitroglycerin plant?
Stress, whether we want to admit it or not, is a common symptom that we college students face everyday. Not only do we have to get good grades, go to work, work out, and still manage to have a somewhat existent social life — we must ultimately decide what we want to do with the rest of our lives.
So how might a typical college student conquer the stress that he/she faces on the day to day basis? Here are are some basics tips to remember.
1. Eat Food.
Let's all admit it: eating food makes us happy. Whether it's your favorite slice of pizza or a big piece of chocolate cake, many of us tend to gravitate towards food as a way to de-stress. Although eating delicious foods is a positive way to deal with stress, one must be careful in terms of how much and how healthy it is. Gaining a magical 15 pounds out of nowhere will only make you more stressed.
2. Sleep.
Not only do we love to sleep but we need sleep in order to function. While coffee and energy drinks may keep us focused for some time, we ultimately crash from these and they can actually make us more stressed when trying to finish an assignment. Sleep, whether a whole night's worth or just a quick power nap, is a great way to clear our minds and let our bodies recharge for the next thing we have to do.
3. Physical Exercise.
Whether it's going for a nice jog, peaceful yoga, or smashing a pumpkin with a baseball bat, physical exercise is a very important and essential way to deal with stress. Not only do you get your blood flowing and your body moving, but exercise allows for you to distract yourself from all the stressful things in life that may be on your mind.
4. Listen to Music.
Since the dawn of time, music has always been a key component to much of human life and culture. Music is pleasing to us all. It inspires us and is ultimately pleasing to our ears. Music is wonderful when dealing with stress because you can put in your headphones, cancel out all other noise and simply listen — and the stress will melt away.
5. Hang With Your Friends.
Your friends are always there for you, whether you want them to be or not. Although your friends can at times be the cause of your stress, they usually are the solution instead. Friends keep you distracted, but they allow for you to talk to them, explain why you are stressed and in the long run make you feel better. They may have stress as well and misery loves company.
Although these are rather simple suggestions for stress and may not be the solution, it's important to realize that even when you find yourself in a period of stress that any obstacle you face can and will be solved. It just takes time, and one bite at a time.
