Coping with School Stress
School is just starting back up for the fall semester. Everyone is excited to reunite with old friends and make new ones. No one, however, wants to think about the major stress that school could bring. School doesn’t have to be stressful! Taking steps towards remaining stress-free will make you a more productive student and a happier person overall. Try some of these methods for coping with school stress.
1. Sleep
Yes, the proper amount of sleep can help prevent stress! Without enough sleep, students are less productive. Lack of sleep may also cause difficulty learning and concentrating. It’s recommended to have about eight hours of sleep nightly. If you have trouble fitting a full eight hours of sleep into your schedule, try taking naps in between classes and study sessions.
2. Exercise
Exercise is a healthy way to blow off steam and relieve stress. If you find yourself being overwhelmed with schoolwork and feel that you don’t have time to exercise, try biking to class or reviewing for a test while walking on a treadmill. This way, you’ll stay on top of schoolwork and get your exercise in.
3. Breathing
It seems so simple, right? Sometimes taking a moment to breathe is all you need to relieve a stressful moment. When your body is experiencing a stress response, you don’t think as clearly. A quick way to calm down is to practice breathing exercises. Breathing exercises are great because they can be done anywhere and relieve stress in minutes. Another key way to utilize breathing is as an anxiety reliever before, during, or after a test. Taking a moment to breathe is perfect for any other times when stress feels overwhelming.
4. Music
Music is another great stress reliever. Depending on the type of music you’re listening to, it can either help stimulate your mind, or it can help calm yourself down. Try listening to classical music while studying, upbeat music when you need help waking up, and slow melodies to help you relax.
5. Organization
Clutter causes stress! Not only does clutter create a stressful environment, it also decreases productivity. Reduce study stress by keeping your study area minimalistic and clutter-free.
6. Positive Thinking!
Last but not least, think positive! Overwhelming yourself with negative thoughts steadily builds stress. Be optimistic! Training your brain to for more positive self-talk can lessen those stressful negative thoughts from sneaking in.
Being a student can be stressful, but taking steps to cope with stress can help you be a more productive student and a happier person overall. Don’t let stress get the best of you this semester. You’ve got this!