By Lauren Harrell
As college students, we are constantly busy with classes, extracurriculars, work, and social activities while trying to make time to sleep, eat, and exercise. It is fair to say that life can be stressful at times. However, by developing some simple habits, you can combat stressful situations and feelings.
One of the best ways to relieve mental stress is by regularly exercising. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which improve your mood and state of mind. Even if you can only exercise a few minutes a day, it will make a difference. When choosing a type of exercise, try to pick something that you will enjoy. Soon you will find that the actual activity, in addition to the endorphins released, will bring you joy and stress relief.
Personally, essential oils are extremely beneficial in reducing my stress and helping me sleep. Try lighting a candle, using a diffuser, or rubbing a small, diluted amount of oil on your wrist, on the back of your neck, or behind your ears. Check out these scents, lavender, rose, orange, sandalwood, bergamot, and jasmine, which are known to be calming and reduce stress. While you may want to reach for that cup of coffee, energy drink, or candy bar when you are up late studying, keep in mind that caffeine can actually increase stress at a certain point. Of course, everything in moderation!
By participating in a research study on campus, I learned about all the benefits of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of drawing your attention to the present moment and focusing on your senses and breathing. Try taking a few minutes each day to sit, focus on the present moment, and put all your worries aside. When thoughts grab your attention, acknowledge them, and let them pass out of your mind. While practicing mindfulness, focus on deep breathing. Mindfulness and deep breathing are useful techniques for clearing your mind and reducing stress and anxiety. When you feel stressed throughout the day, stopping to take a few deep breaths will help calm you. Deep breathing has been scientifically proven to promote relaxation and calm your mind.
Listen to music. While slow, soothing music is very beneficial in helping you relax, listening to any type of music you really enjoy will help relieve stress. As with exercise, listening to music can also cause your body to release endorphins and improve your mood.
Keep a journal. By writing down your feelings and worries, you can help relieve their grasp on your mind and thoughts. This can help you identify certain things that may bring you stress. Maybe you are juggling too many responsibilities. Keep this in mind next time you consider signing up for something else. Take on what you can handle, but when it comes to activities you have a say in, be sure to choose things that make you happy. Maybe you realize that you procrastinate and always wait until the last minute. Then try prioritizing and planning ahead to reduce the anxieties that come with procrastination and overwhelming amounts of work. With journaling, focusing on the positive things in your life will be most effective in reducing stress. Try writing down the things for which you are grateful or write down one good thing that happened each day. Spend time with people you enjoy being around and do things you enjoy.
Life as a college student can get busy but be sure to make time for your friends and family. Make time for activities you enjoy. Try a new hobby or pick up an old one. We all love Netflix, but try reading, going for a hike, coloring, dancing, and cooking, just to name a few ideas.
Above all, figure out what works for you. Everyone is different and what might work for someone else might not work for you and vice versa. Give these ideas a try and see how they might have an impact on your stress.
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