DEALING
WITH
STRESS
By Ella May Ho
It’s the start of a new school year and it’s no doubt that being a university student comes great
responsibility. It, however, also comes with the bombardment of assignments and upcoming
deadlines, which can definitely bring along stress and anxiety. Sometimes, things can go out of
hand and we forget that we ourselves have our own mind and emotions to take care of—which is
why it is very important that we find ways to maintain our mental health and not just leave it on
the back burner. Thus, below are three tips that help you carry and slowly push that stress away
—some, that you may have already heard over and over again, but who’s to say that we don’t need
another reminder?
1. Schedule your dates! We’re not talking about the “dates” that you’ve supposedly planned with
your romantic partner…but the dates of when your assignments are due, as well as other
important or personal events you have to attend. This will not only help plan your stuff
accordingly, but you also won’t have to worry about missing anything. Personally, I’m a papertype-of-person so I love having my Passion Planner by my side as it really helps me feel more
organized. Not to mention that the planner is somewhat visually pleasing and gets me more
motivated!
2. Eat well (and sleep well) Yes. It sounds cliché but having healthier choices and having at least 8
hours of sleep are definitely things that need to be taken into account daily, especially when
under extreme stress. Your choice of food influences your way of thinking and feeling! For
instance, according to Natural Society, (source: http://naturalsociety.com/5-easy-ways-tostress-proof-your-diet/), consuming a lot of caffeine when you think it’s going to help you stay
awake and on your feet—is actually just going to bring you more distress and perhaps anxiety. A
large amount of sweets and deserts may make you feel at ease for a while, although in reality, is
just going to over stimulate your nervous system, making it harder for you to stay calm. Other
than that, having enough sleep helps our minds and bodies to rest and recharge. So bring on the
vegetables and fruits and say hello to a good night’s sleep!
3. Open Up and Communicate Maybe you’re not the type of person who’s comfortable in
expressing yourself and talking to your loved ones about how you’re feeling, or maybe you
are…either way, communicating can be a nice way to finally shove all of the stress out of your
system. Sometimes, it can all be a little too much to handle. Having good communication and a
support system may help you feel less alone in what you’re dealing with. It’s important for us to
remember that we all have someone who deeply cares about our health and well-being dearly, so
do try to open up to someone whom you can be yourself with and communicate!
OCTOBER 2016
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