Listen to relaxing music to help lower your pulse and heart rate and lower stress hormone levels. Laugh and take time to have fun. Social distancing has caused people to experience feelings of stress, anger, isolation and loneliness. This occurs in combination with ongoing stress, anxiety, and fear due to COVID-19, health, school, work, and other causes.
Stress can cause problems such as chronic health problems and changes in eating and sleeping habits. Strategies for managing stress can help. According to the American University Health Association (ACHA), 44.9% of college students experience higher-than-average stress levels, while 12.7% experience overwhelming stress levels. With so many academic demands and responsibilities as a student, it is to be expected that you will feel high levels of stress from time to time In a while.
However, when stress interrupts daily activities, it is necessary to determine the cause of the stress and how to manage it. The American Psychological Association notes that sleeping well allows our brain to recharge, repair muscles, promote memory consolidation and stimulate the immune system. In fact, 21 percent of adults feel higher levels of stress from not getting enough sleep. Some people can deal with stress with unhealthy habits. These may include drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, smoking, eating too much, or using illegal substances.
These habits can harm your health and increase your stress levels. Regular body movement balances the nervous system and increases blood circulation, helping to eliminate stress hormones. Even a daily 20-minute walk makes a difference. Any type of exercise can reduce stress and improve your mood; simply choose activities that you enjoy and make them a regular habit.
When you're stressed, the last thing you probably want to do is get up and exercise. However, physical activity relieves a lot of stress and you don't have to be an athlete or spend hours in a gym to enjoy the benefits. Exercise releases endorphins that make you feel good, and it can also be a valuable distraction from your daily concerns. Of course, it's not always realistic to have a close friend to lean on when you're overwhelmed by stress, but creating and maintaining a network of close friends can improve your resilience to life's stressors.
College students can develop coping strategies to combat stress triggers and improve their school experience. You can also consider therapy if you are very worried or if you have trouble carrying out daily routines or completing tasks at work, home, or school. Keeping a stress diary can help you identify common stressors in your life and how you deal with them. This type of self-reflection can help you find a regular pattern of stress in your life and examine how you deal with it.
