Best Ways to Deal with Stress

"Stress is caused by being 'here' but wanting to be 'there'." —Eckhart Tolle

As a college student, stress is my middle name. We all deal with stress, and we all deal with it in our own ways. It can be hard to juggle all that life has to offer. Between school, work, the gym, kids, relationships, family, and friends, you might feel a little bit overwhelmed. No matter how stressful life may seem at times, there are steps we can take to help relieve that stress and relax.

1. Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine

It may be hard to completely eliminate these two types of drinks, but even reducing these two will leave you less stressed. Alcohol and caffeine are not the answer to feeling better. Caffeine can be anything between chocolate, green tea, or coffee. Both of these are stimulants, which will make you more stressed in the end. We know some of you turn to alcohol to relieve stress, but alcohol actually is a depressant. Some alternatives to these are water, sugar-free juices, or herbal teas!

Not only should you watch what you drink, but watching what you eat can also affect how your body copes with stress. Having a healthy and nutritious lifestyle can help relax your body and let it take care of itself, just one more thing you don't have to worry about!

2. Get 8 Hours of Sleep

Getting a good night's sleep is key. The average human needs about 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Not getting enough rest can cause stress, and funny enough, stress can prevent us from getting a good night's rest. Try relaxing a few hours before bed so your mind can rest and get ready for a good night's sleep. Sometimes when too much is on our minds, it can prevent us from falling asleep at night. Keeping a routine and sleeping around the same time every night will assist your mind and body on getting used to a predictable bedtime.

3. Get Physical

Whether you like to run, play tennis, go for a swim, hit the gym, or even attend a yoga class, your health is the foundation of managing stress. Stress creates adrenaline in our bodies, which amps us up and increases our blood circulation. Working out with high adrenaline rate aids in exerting your muscles. Exercising lowers your adrenaline level, bringing you down to a calmer state by making your body feel exhausted. When you feel stressed, even just going for a walk around the block can simply help.

4. Ask for Help

Never be afraid to reach out to someone. Just talking about how you feel can help more than you think. Talking about it can distract you from your thoughts or help free some of the tension built up inside of you.

Talking it out with someone else also gives you another input and viewpoint. Do not think you are bothering someone by reaching out.

5. Write It Down

Simply writing things down can help you discover the root of the problem. It is a great management tool that you will learn to love. Write down exactly how you feel, what exactly was going on, and the date. Writing helps clear the mind as well as promotes happiness and clear communication.

6. Time Management

Take it day by day. When we have too much to accomplish, we become stressed and overwhelmed. Understand that you cannot do it all, and realize which ones you need to prioritize. If possible, decide which tasks you need to accomplish and which tasks you can delegate. Try breaking down each task into smaller tasks to make it more achievable.

Time management is very important in everything we do. Do not forget to make time for unexpected tasks and time for yourself.