We all know life can be stressful – juggling jobs, college work and a social life. While moderate amounts of stress can act as motivation to get work done, higher levels of stress can have a negative impact on mental health. So in light of National Stress Awareness Day take a look below at some tips to help you reduce stress.
Take a new approach
Rather than viewing stress as something that’s bad, why not think of it as your body’s way of preparing you for the situation you’ve been put in? In her TED talk, Kelly McGonigal presents the theory that the way we think about stress is what determines if it has a negative impact on our health. She explains that if we perceive stress as something positive which is helping us, we may not experience the health implications associated with high stress levels.
Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle
Having a healthy lifestyle can sometimes be difficult for students who are always rushed for time. But eating a well-balanced diet and exercising regularly can help to clear your head. Fuelling your body with the right foods can also boost your energy, helping stressful tasks seem more achievable.
Make time for friends and family
However overwhelming your workload might be, or how busy your schedule is, spending time with friends and family is important. As well as giving you a break from college work, socialising can help to reduce stress by focusing your mind elsewhere. Family and friends can also be a great support network and can be there to offer advice should you need it.
Prioritise your workload
Having lots of work hanging over your head can be daunting and stressful. Taking the time to prioritise your workload can help to make it more manageable. This will help you to get the work you need to get done without the panic of rushing to get it all done at once.
Things won’t always go as planned
Sometimes when things don’t end out the way you planned them to, it can be stressful. However it’s important to remember that not everything will work out how you wanted it to. Try to focus on the things you can control, rather than on the things you can’t. Once the event has passed, you can’t change it so try to move on and focus on the future.
For more tips on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, mentally and physically, check out this month’s Health and Fitness Tip!