Ways students can cope with stress

 Hey guys. Today I am going to be talking about different ways students can cope with stress. Stress has a lot of negative toll on one's mind and body. For example, stress can cause poor sleep, headaches, weight loss/gain, and constant irritability. It can also cause a loss of interest in hobbies, constant worrying, the inability to concentrate and can even lead to drug abuse. College Students are more prone to these things, and since all of the effects of stress are negative, it's important to keep stress to a minimum. Here are some ways to help students cope.

First up, let's talk about mental health. It's proven to be very important to have supportive people in your life. Whether it be friends or family members, talking face to face with someone about how you're feeling can be a big way to help reduce stress. Being a college student myself, I know personally how easy it is to get so caught up with school and work that you don't take the time to stay close to people but maintaining those close relationships in your life is very important. If you're at a point where you feel you don't have anyone you can open up with, getting a therapist or counselor is another great way to reduce stress. They can help you by just allowing you to talk and vent, or getting you the help you need.

 Next, making sure you have a work-life balance is so important. Spending all of your hours at work and then coming home to do homework can be very draining. I recommend putting some time aside each week to have fun with people, and also to take some time for yourself to relax. Another pro tip would be to bond with a pet! Studies have shown that spending time with a pet can increase happiness and reduce anxiety levels by a lot. I can attest to this tip, as I have many dogs and they all have helped with my stress levels greatly. 

Stress can take a huge toll on one’s body, too. It can affect people physically, as some people have developed skin and hair conditions resulting from stress like acne, eczema, hair loss and thinning as well as balding, and more. Stress also affects people internally. Migraines, stomachaches, breathing problems from panic attacks, fertility problems, and risk for diabetes among other things can occur if one is under a lot of stress. Making sure to exercise regularly helps in so many ways. Getting your body moving on a regular basis is key to a healthy mind and body. Exercising releases hormones in the brain that aid to relieve stress, it gets the blood in our bodies circulating, and just makes you feel better overall. Also be sure to drink enough water each day. 

Meditation and yoga can be extremely beneficial. They are very relaxing and help calm down the brain and body. Trying meditation and/or yoga should be on every college student's list of help reduce stress. You can take a class, use an app, or follow along to a youtube video. Another very important tip is to remind everyone to get enough sleep each night. Good time management is important. College and work take up so many hours of a college student's life, but if you plan your hours wisely then you should be able to find some time for yourself. 

Since school itself is so stressful, I decided I would include some tips that can make the college life just a little bit less stressful for us students. First, I recommend getting a planner. Writing down each of your assignments and when they are due can help you plan which days you're going to finish what. You can also write in your work schedule and plan your week so that you will definitely finish everything and have time to spare. Next, staying up to date with your class announcements. The world is crazy right now and classes are changing all the time, it's important to pay attention to emails and announcements so you're up to date with how your class is running. Another tip would be to find a quiet place to complete your work. It's hard to be in public right now but with all the noise at home that's not the best place to do it. Find somewhere quiet where you can truly focus on your work and you won't be as stressed.

Life for us college students can be extremely stressful, but don't let your stress get the best of you. Remember these tips to help manage your stress to keep your mind and body as healthy and happy as possible.