Some people say that college is where they had some of the best times of their life. While this is true for many people, it is also true that college can be where you experience some of the most stressful times of your life. A combination of class, work, extracurricular activities, and your personal life can all help to contribute to high levels of stress and anxiety. Sometimes stress can feel overwhelming and hard to avoid, but with following information you will be ready to achieve high academic performance and ready to create a platform for a healthy life style. Use these top five stress relievers in order to promote focus, memory, and an overall feeling of good health and well-being.
#1 Stress Reliever – Avoid Unnecessary Stress.
Some may say that this is easier said than done but there are ways to avoid unnecessary stress. While it is not possible to eliminate all stress completely there are some stressors that can be avoided. One method that can be used to combat stress is to just say “no”! For some people, saying “no” is the most difficult thing to do. The inability to say “no” can sometimes mean that you create a schedule that is unmanageable and unrealistic due to the overwhelming number of requested activities and engagements you have been asked to participate in. Saying yes to everything will only cause more stress because you are continually adding more responsibilities for yourself. Learn to say “no” and only agree to participate in activities that fit your schedule. It can be easier to do this if you keep a planner or organizer to write in so that you can refer to it when you are asked to devout time to a new tasks or activities. This may sometimes mean that you have to tell people close to you “no”. However, it may be in the best interest of you and your loved one or friend to decline rather than you stress over the details of the tasks.
#2 Stress Reliever – Exercise.
With exercise your body is more capable to cope with the everyday stressors that we all encounter. Just going for a walk for 30 minutes 3 days a week can help to alleviate tons of stress. And after your done you will feel better and after some time you may also look better due to the tone you will start to see from your stress reducing activity. So why not tackle two things at once? The next time you want to relieve some stress hit the gym, go running, or pop in that old exercise DVD you’ve been meaning to watch. It will prove to be one of the most rewarding activities of your entire day!
#3 Stress Reliever – Healthy Diet.
Maintaining a healthy diet can also help to combat and reduce stress. Be sure to eat breakfast so that you can keep your energy flowing throughout the day. Try not to over eat or starve yourself both of these bad eating habits can cause unhealthy outcomes. Also, be mindful of what you take in because too much sugar and caffeine can create energy for a minute amount of time and later cause a crash that will only contribute to your stress levels. Being mindful of your intake also means that you should try to stay clear of drugs and alcohol. Adding these things to your diet may seem like a good way to socialize or even a good way to eliminate stress, but drugs and alcohol only help with these issues temporarily. Eventually, you will be confronted with the stress that you were trying to avoid by practicing unhealthy eating habits, drinking or using drugs. So remember to say “yes” to a healthy diet.
#4 Stress Reliever – Sleep
Getting adequate sleep is important to your health. It is recommended that everyone get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night for you to achieve your optimal level of performance. Without sleep you could perform as if you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and who wants to go to class to take their final exam drunk? So, listen to your body; do not try to extend yourself if you know that you are tired. It is best that you get your rest because chances are you will have to redo whatever it is you were working on when you started dosing off from exhaustion.
#5 Stress Reliever – Do Activities that you enjoy.
Have you ever heard the saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”? Well, this is true and in fact you could be creating a stressful environment for yourself if you are not saving time for things that you truly enjoy. You should do activities that you love every day if you can; rather it be spending time with your dog, reading the novel you just purchased, or browsing on your favorite social networking site. You might even want to use this time to just relax and be alone. Whatever your pleasure is, your leisure activities are important because they bring enjoyment to your life that is needed and necessary for your sanity and overall well-being.
Hopefully this list of the Top 5 Ways to Reduce Stress is helpful to you or someone you know. If you have any other common or useful stress reducers please add your comments.
References:
HelpGuide.org. Stress Management. http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_management_relief_coping.htm
StudyGS.net. Managing Stress. http://studygs.net/stress.htm
Stock.XChng. Higher 1. Image of woman jumping. Image ID number 1205205. http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1205205
Stock.XChng. Shout it all out. Image of angry man screaming. Image ID number 1327383. http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1327383
