It's no secret that I get stressed incredibly easily, especially in relation to college, and this feeling can be incredibly damaging and detrimental to performance. Everyone suffers from stress at some point in their life, and in small amounts it's healthy and helps to motivate you towards a goal, but too much stress can have a severe impact. Over the past few weeks, I've definitely been coping better and found my stress levels to be much more manageable, both from implementing some of these strategies and having a genuinely enjoyable month. I decided to make this post as it'll hopefully be useful for anyone who is stressed and needs some methods of relieving this, as well as being a point of reference for myself in the future, so I hope that you like it!
Get some fresh air
I instantly feel better when I'm out in the open, especially when a day of working at home can make you feel quite claustrophobic and stuffy, and just taking a short break by going for a walk really helps to calm any stressful thoughts and focus your mind. Doing some exercise is also extremely helpful, and it's a great way to channel all of your negative energy into a productive activity.
Meditate to calm down and ease your thoughts
When I used to go to yoga classes regularly, I always found that I would leave feeling much calmer and focused. Meditation is definitely something I want to do more in my daily life, even if it's just for a few minutes every day to restore my energy and feel revitalised. The 'Calm' app is a great starting point, and I know there are also some meditation podcasts available depending on what best suits you.
Take breaks from working
One of the best pieces of advice I recently received was to take breaks while working, and although you may hear this tip all the time, putting it into action is much more effective than you'd realise. My mindset is often that if I take a break, it's time wasted which could be spent more productively by doing work. However, it's unbelievable how much difference just a 5-minute break can make in restoring your motivation and allowing you to remain focused. On a day when I'm feeling particularly stressed and know that no productive work can be done in that mindset, taking an hour to listen to music with a cup of tea and some candles really makes a huge difference.
Switch off from social media
I often find that if I'm stressed, social media adds to it and makes me feel much worse, so sometimes it's better to avoid it completely, even if it's just for a few hours. Instead, spend your evenings doing something productive away from the screen, like reading a book, doing some baking or trying out a new hobby like playing an instrument or drawing. It'll definitely feel better in the long-run and allow you to fully unwind, as well as possibly finding a new pass time that you enjoy.
Try not to overload yourself with work
Although it's much easier said than done, the worst possible thing to do when you're stressed is to give yourself even more work to do. I'm definitely guilty of this myself, but I'd advise that if you're having a particularly stressful day, try and just focus on the work that has to be completed for the next day, or try giving yourself a day off from homework and revision to ease your mind and relax. Also, try not to overwork and spend hours on something that should only be a short task (although I'm definitely guilty of doing this at times).
Have a pamper evening
If you opt for having a night off from any homework and revision, then why not go all-out and treat yourself. Not only will it be good to finally give yourself the pampering that you don't always have time for, but it's also a great way of relaxing and de-stressing. Now's the perfect time for candles, bath bombs and some relaxing music, or whatever makes your evenings enjoyable.
I really hope that this post was useful for any of you that are feeling stressed, and remember that you're never alone with your issues and that I'm always here to help. If you have any other tips or advice then make sure you share them down in the comments, as I'm sure someone may find it useful. Thank you very much for reading this post and I'll be back next Sunday with another one!
Love from Daisy x
Post a Comment