By: Jessie Burke
Stress is something everyone has to deal with on a daily basis and it can be very frustrating and difficult to cope with it. With the start of school, stress levels have sky rocketed because there is so much to do with so little time to do it. Here are a few tips that can help you beat back to school stress.
1. Take a Deep Breath: Breathing is key in helping your body stay relaxed. The more oxygen you receive, the better your brain functions. When you feel that overwhelming sensation coming on, stop for a moment, close your eyes and take a deep breath. You’ll be surprised how much it calms you down and clears your mind.
2. Use a Mantra: A mantra is a word or phrase that is used to aid in meditation which can be calming. A mantra can be anything whether it be a goal: “I will past my test” or a phrase that makes you happy: “I am fabulous”. Either way, if you repeat your special mantra to yourself it will help you relax and focus on your goals.
3. Peel an Orange: Often times when people are stressed it’s because they have too much going on at once. You may feel pulled in ten different directions and unable to focus on what you need to. By peeling an orange, it helps your mind focus on one simple task. You’ll feel better for accomplishing something and you’ll also have a healthy snack!
4. Talk it Out: When you’re stressed all of the things that are building up on top of you are poisoning you from the inside. You often feel anxious and over think things or even forget important tasks. By talking about what is stressing you out with a friend or someone close to you, it will help relieve the pressure you feel. It’s important to get things out so they don’t keep building up and causing you more stress.
5. Squeeze a Stress Ball: This method of relieving stress is tried and true but it still works. Stress balls are often made of squishy or malleable substances so when you squeeze them, you are physically focused on something. By focusing your energy on doing a physical activity, you will be able to clear your head and relieve some of the pent up stressful feelings you’re experiencing.