College Stress Relief: 9 Ways to Reduce Stress
Between going to class, studying, and eating, it's crucial for you to find time to relax and de-stress. Taking care of your mental and physical health can actually help to increase productivity and efficiency. Try out these tips to calm your mind and feel ready to take on the day:
Take care of your body
1) Rest
Listen, we know you’re working on tight deadlines and have plenty of due dates - but getting enough sleep each night is a necessity. Try to commit to 8 hours a night. If you can’t get in a full 8 hours, see if you can schedule some time for a midday nap.
2) Eat right
Believe it or not, an unhealthy diet can actually increase your stress levels. When you eat healthily, you prepare your body to fight stress. Try swapping your daily cheesy sugary carb-loaded snacks for some fresh fruit or protein bars. You should also try to reduce your caffeine intake - high doses can increase anxiety. This may be a hard task especially if you put yourself into a position where you need a few all-nighters, but five or fewer cups per day are considered an acceptable amount.
3) Exercise
Exercise is one of the most important activities in combating stress. NJIT has several exercise facilities, indoor track, pool, and a soccer field to keep your blood flowing. Research shows that people who exercise regularly are less likely to experience anxiety than those who don’t. Take a break from some homework to go for a jog on the track or to lift some weights.
Spend time with a support group
1) Branch out and join a club
During this stressful time, you may start to feel lonely. Getting involved with groups or clubs around our campus can be a great way to combat this feeling. It may be a weird feeling to put yourself out there at first, but someone you meet may end up being your lifelong friend. You can find a full list of clubs and organizations to join here.
2) Interact with your pet
I mean come on, who wouldn’t want to do this anyway? But in all seriousness, it’s proven that hanging out with a pet promotes a positive mood. If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, it may be time to take your dog for a walk or cuddle on the couch with your kitten. If you live on campus and don’t have a pet nearby, keep an eye out for “Pet a Puppy” days held by many organizations on campus.
3) Make time to hang out with your friends
When college gets stressful, you may find it hard to think about anything other than exams, projects, and assignments. However, doing nothing but school work can actually make things feel more overwhelming. It’s important to take a break and let your mind rest. Make plans with your friends to have a relaxing movie night, or just take an hour to grab coffee with your suitemates. Spending time with others is a great way to take your mind off of school, and have some fun.
Make it a priority to relax
1) Listen to your favorite songs
Music can have a beneficial effect on our physiological functions, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the levels of stress and hormones. Next time you’re feeling stressed, listen to your favorite playlist. Or, you can listen to NJIT’s Top 100 playlist on Spotify here!
2) Light a candle
Some scents of candles can be extremely soothing. Here are the most calming scents: Lavender, rose, bergamot, orange or orange blossom and sandalwood. For those living in NJIT dorms where you can’t light a candle, a diffuser with essential oils is also highly recommended!
3) Practice mindfulness
Your mental health should be a priority in your life, especially when you notice yourself starting to get more and more overwhelmed and anxious. One simple way to reduce stress is by practicing mindfulness. Set a reminder everyday to spend 10-30 minutes decompressing by relaxing your body and mind. This could be done through guided imagery meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, journaling, or other methods that allow you to concentrate on the present moment.
