According to the American Psychological Association, stress can make us fatigued, unable to concentrate, irritable, depressed and give us headaches. All of those symptoms will inhibit one's ability to get work done during this busy week of finals.
Also, inability to manage stress over long periods of time can decrease immune system function and even make our bodies age faster! Learn the best ways to manage your own stress by checking out some of these techniques.
Take a breath. Closing your eyes and practicing deep, controlled breathing can be a great way to relax. Try listening to this breathing exercise to use your breath more effectively.
Laugh! Laughter reduces stress hormones, takes focus away from stressful thoughts and releases feel-good endorphins into the body. So use your study breaks to watch a funny TV-episode or your favorite YouTube video.
Do a quick workout. While the gym may be low on your list of priorities during finals week, any type of physical exercise can help you feel less anxious. Go for a quick walk, jog or bike ride to help reduce your stress. You can also choose to walk to and around campus instead of taking the bus to squeeze some physical activity into your busy day.
Call a friend. Social support is a very powerful stress-buster. Sometimes it is helpful to express your stressed out feelings to a close friend or family member. This allows you not only to get these emotions off your chest, but your friends or family also provide you with advice or soothing words to help you get through a stressful time.
Cook yourself a quick and healthy meal. During a busy day, it is tempting to munch on unhealthy food or quickly order some greasy carry out. However, eating unhealthy can make us feel worse. Healthy food is important to give us energy and help us concentrate. Check out these easy, healthy recipes for a quick meal any time of day.
These simple stress-reducers can be very helpful to get you through exam week. If you find yourself very overwhelmed and in need of more support, give the Counseling and Wellness Center a call at 352-392-1575 to make an appointment with a counselor.
Posts in Gator Minds appear on Wednesdays.
