20 Ways to Destroy Stress for the Stress-Destroyed

You’re at your desk. It’s 2 AM. You have an English essay to write, three articles to read and annotate, and a Calculus exam tomorrow, and you just want to scream AND— Don’t pass out, darling! It’s alright! Forget what other people say—school is downright stressful. You’ve got tons of homework, demanding AP classes, friend drama, SAT’s, AP’s, and whatever other evil acronyms College Board makes up to torture our minds. But you can deal with it! Stress is normal, but it can be seriously detrimental to your health, leading to depression, headaches, heart problems, and even diabetes. If you learn how to deal with it, you’ll ultimately feel a lot calmer, a lot happier, and a lot healthier. Check out these effective ways to destroy your stress like the evil creature it is! 1) Stay organized It’s so much easier to become frustrated when you’re disorganized. Try to keep a routine and keep your workplace clean and organized. If you have a routine, you’ll be less likely to procrastinate and leave off all your work until the last minute. In other words, if you have a routine, you’ll be a lot less stressed out! 2) SLEEP I know it’s tempting to stay up all night and watch Netflix†¦ but sleep smart! Sleep is integral for healthy brain function. Although it’s very difficult to maintain eight full hours of sleep during the school year, it’s important to try to get as much sleep as is possible. Spend less time vegetating on social media and more time catching those z’s! 3) Stay active This has been mentioned in previous blog posts, but seriously: physical exercise is essential for a healthy lifestyle. It’s also a great way to de-stress. Try doing some jumping jacks in between study sessions—or going for a brisk walk. Yoga and pilates are also great ways to relieve tension! Sign up for a local class or buy a yoga mat and learn online! Also, for some exercises that are easy to do at home, check out this awesome list. ) Listen to music Jam to some tunes! Music definitely has a strong psychological impact on its listeners, and the right type of music can help you focus more, uplift your spirits, and even relieve your stress. Take a look at these great stress-relieving playlists the next time you feel like tearing your hair out. 15) Stop wasting time. This ties into a few previously mentioned topics, but it’s so important that we might as well mention it again. If you study earlier and not later and start becoming more productive, you’ll actually spend a lot less time getting your work done and more time to relax. Rather than half-heartedly studying while watching TV, get away from your distractions and just get your work over with. You’ll spend a lot less time stressing over looming deadlines and a lot more time relaxing. Try downloading tools which track your internet usage, so you can see which websites you spend the most time on. Or try pitching into this list of time management strategies. 16) Don’t take on more than you can handle Learn to keep your priorities straight and don’t overburden yourself with commitments. Don’t try to cram a whole bunch of activities in your schedule if you can’t handle it, and don’t always feel obligated to dedicated all your time to other people. You are important, too—learn to say â€Å"no† if you know you already have too much on your plate! 17) Volunteer! According to research, volunteering and giving back actually increases happiness. Mother Teresa would approve. So, go sign up for some nice volunteer gigs! Not only will you be doing something good for your community, but you’ll also be a lot less stressed out. 18) Get a pet In one study involving 217 community members, people with pets were proven to be happier and less preoccupied. And, get this: petting aforementioned pets is also said to be a major stress-reliever. It releases oxytocin, which helps lower blood pressure and fight cortisol, which is associated with stress and anxiety. So, go get a petand pet it! 19) Chew gum Chewing gum alleviates negativity and reduces cortisol when under stress, according to one study. So grab your nearest pack of gum and chew that thing like it’s nobody’s business. Oh, and what’s that about chewing gum having a negative connotation? I didn’t think so. 20) Speak out loud Talk about your stress with someone. Really, it helps. Find an understanding friend or family member to talk about your problems with (preferably someone who won’t make you more stressed!). If you feel like there’s no one who understands, there are tons of counseling hotlines like this one which will help you for free. Photo Credit: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7