LEARN TO MANAGE STRESS

Do you sometimes feel like these are the "stressed years" of your life?

Stress is a part of day to day living. As a student, you may experience stress meeting academic demands, adjusting to a new school environment, or developing friendships. Stress is not always bad - mild stress can motivate you to study harder or make more effort in relationships. But too much stress can do the opposite, zapping your energy, messing up friendships and even making you physically sick.

Though you may think stress is caused by events in your life - such as a test, or a breakup - these events are not actually stressful in themselves. It is the way YOU react to events that makes them stressful. If you can learn to control your reactions, you can be less stressed. The following suggestions are designed to reduce stressful feelings. Try them. They work!

Learn to Relax.

Throughout the day, take "minibreaks." Sit-down and get comfortable, slowly take a deep breath in, hold it, and then exhale very slowly. At the same time, let your shoulder muscles droop, smile, and say something positive like, "I am r-e-l-a-x-e-d." Be sure to get sufficient rest at night.

Practice Acceptance of Reality.

Many people get stressed out over things they won't let themselves accept. Often these are things that can't be changed, like someone else's feelings or beliefs. Once you learn to accept the things you cannot change and move on, you will feel a great relief and feeling of lightness.

Talk Sensibly to Yourself.

Ask yourself what real impact the stressful situation will have on you in a day or a week and see if you can let the negative thoughts go. Remind yourself that you will get past these feelings, and try to feel better now. Think of what you would counsel a friend to do in your situation.

Don't Take on Stress for Other People.

Be careful not to get "infected" by other people's stress. If you are feeling anxious about a situation, think through whether the it is really your problem or someone else's. If it is yours, approach it calmly and firmly; if it is someone else's, there is not much you can do about it.

Don't Look Back.

Some people get stressed just thinking about what they should have done in the past. If that is you, realize the past is over. Rather than blame yourself with hindsight thinking like, "I should have ...," think about what you can learn from your mistakes and plan for the future.

Don't Be Overly Strict with Yourself.

Watch out for perfectionism - set realistic and achievable goals. If you got all C's last term, maybe getting all A's this term is not realistic. Do your best, but be happy with B's for now - it's still a big improvement!

Be Careful of Procrastination.

Don't put things off to the last minute or you will feel overwhelmed. Breaking tasks into smaller units and figuring out which things are most important to do first will you get things done on time, without too much stress.

Get Organized.

Develop a realistic schedule of daily or weekly activities that includes time for homework, sleep, relationships, and recreation. Use a daily "thing to do" list. Improve your physical surroundings by cleaning your bedroom and straightening up your study area. Use your time and energy as efficiently as possible.

Exercise.

Physical activity is proven to relieve stress. In the past, teenagers spent all day working in the fields or doing other physical work. Now that we don't work our bodies so hard during the day, we don't get rid of stress as easily either. It is very important to develop a regular exercise program to help reduce the effects of working. Try aerobics, walking, Tae Bo, dancing, swimming, karate... etc!

Stop Rushing Around.

If you always check your watch or worry about what you do with your time, learn to take things a bit slower. Allow plenty of time to get things done. Plan your schedule ahead of time. Recognize that you can only do so much in a given period. Life is a journey, not a race.

Calm Down.

Every situation in life does not require you to be competitive. Adjust your approach to an event according to its demands. You don't have to raise your voice in a simple discussion. Playing basketball with a friend doesn't have to be an Olympic event. Life seems simpler when you are relaxed. Don't sweat the small stuff.

Include Quiet Time.

Balance your social, family and school demands with special private times. Hobbies are good antidotes for daily pressures. Unwind by taking a quiet walk, soaking in a hot bath, watching a sunset, or listening to calming music.

Watch Your Habits.

Eat sensibly - a balanced diet will provide all the necessary energy you will need during the day. Don't fall into the trap of taking caffeine pills or drinking alcohol to cope with stress. These things actually increase stress by weakening your body and causing you to crash, which reduces your mental alertness and ability to achieve simple tasks. Be mindful of the stressful physical effects of too much caffeine and sugar. Put out the cigarettes - they restrict blood circulation and increase your stress levels.

Talk to Friends.

Friends can be good medicine. Daily doses of conversation, regular socializing and occasional sharing of deep feelings and ideas can be magic for making you feel less stressed.