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During the course of your college education, you'll be stressed out at times. Many people don't realize it, but stress is a very natural and important part of life. Stress is the way you react physically, emotionally, and mentally to stressors. Stress can be a motivating factor that helps you meet a deadline, walk into a room packed with people you don't know, or study for an exam. However, too much stress can become negative and even destructive. You can break the cycle of negative stress by learning ways to help yourself relax and stop over-reaction that can lead to physical and psychological damage. A positive attitude and positive lifestyle are key elements of stress management. Since stress is both an emotional and physical reaction to change, the better you feel in mind and body, the better you'll be able to deal with the stress college life hands you. By taking the time to practice some simple relaxation techniques regularly, you can give yourself a chance to unwind and reduce stress. Music - Listening to soothing music can create relaxation for both the body and mind. Breathing techniques - Try this simple exercise whenever you feel stress. Take a deep breath, hold it, and then release your breath slowly. Repeat this exercise six or seven times. Energy Releasing Activities - Just about anything requiring physical activity will work. Getting involved in walking, jogging, weightlifting, aerobics, or simply climbing the stairs will work wonders in releasing tension. Stay Healthy - Take care of your health by making sure you get plenty of sleep and regular meals, and avoid excessive amounts of stimulants such as caffeine or alcohol.* Progressive relaxation routines - This technique can be done while sitting or lying down. Begin by making a fist. Focus on how the tension in your hand feels. Hold the tension for a few seconds before relaxing. Relax your hand and let the tension slip away. You may notice that your hand feels lighter. Does your hand tingle or feel warm when relaxed? It is recommended that you try this exercise with other major muscle groups. You can start with your hands, progress to your face, shoulders, arms, back, legs, and feet. Visualization - You can produce feelings of relaxation simply by using your imagination. Visualization allows your imagination to run free. Try to visualize yourself feeling warm, calm, and relaxed. Just by using your imagination, you can give yourself a mental vacation whenever you feel the need to take a moment to relax, slip away, and enjoy. Talking it out - Talking with a friend, instructor, or counselor will help keep you from keeping everything inside. Talking about an issue provides you a better chance of dealing with the issue in a more rational manner. Compliment others - Smile and give out genuine compliments to other people throughout your day.* Remember humor and use it - Remembering to keep a sense of humor about situations can help to maintain a positive and healthy perspective. Don't forget that laughing releases tension!* Plan - Develop a plan for efficient use of your time and resources so you can be confident that everything will have a place. Remember to schedule time for fun as well!* *added from L. John Mason, Ph.D.; "Self-Care Stress: Ten Timely Tips" More Information on Stress Management |
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