Healthy stress relievers for students
By Alexa Low
According to ABCNews, a study published in the medical journal Depression and Anxiety found that 3 out of every 4 college students reported they are stressed.
This means that 75 percent of college students find themselves looking for a stress reliever. Some choose alcohol and drugs while others choose healthier options such as meditating and listening to music.
Verywellmind published the Top 10 Stress Relievers for Students
- Power Naps
- Use Visualization for Stress Relief
- Exercise
- Breathing Exercises
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
- Music
- Staying Organized
- Eat Right
- Self Hypnosis
- Positive Thinking and Affirmations
Many health issues such as weight problems and heart disease can occur with too much stress so it’s important to find alternatives to unhealthy habits.
Power Naps
Finding time to get an appropriate amount of sleep can be hard for some college students.
Students who are sleep-deprived are less productive and have a harder time learning new information.
Studies show most people tend to get drowsy around eight hours after they have woken up for the day. A quick nap can make you more alert, reduce stress, and improve cognitive functioning.
On average, the body needs seven to nine hours of sleep per day. Naps should last around 20 minutes and be taken in the afternoon.
Exercise
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that physical activity reduces stress and 14 percent of people use exercise as a stress reliever.
“I tend to use exercise as a method for coping with stress over any other method. I am able to use it as an escape because it keeps my mind off whatever I am stressing about,” Dylan Christiansen said.
Exercise pairs with healthy eating habits.
Stress eating can be very bad for someone’s health, especially college students who are still growing and learning how to eat a balanced diet.
Substituting a banana and peanut butter for a whole bag of chips will help in the long run to avoid stressing about weight.
Music
For many, music is their first option when choosing a stress reliever.
Psychcentral says music is great for relieving stress as it has a tremendously relaxing effect on our minds and bodies. It can slow the pulse and heart rate, lowering blood pressure which decreases the levels of stress hormones.
“I listen to music. I put my phone in airplane mode, lay down, close my eyes and just take a break,” Jordan Wiggins said.
Listening to music can aid in meditation as it acts as a distraction from a stressful event and gives the body and mind time to relax.
Positive Thinking and Affirmations
Having a good attitude at the start of each day reduces the risk of being stressed.
The more positive of an outlook a person has on life, the more likely they are to be put in good situations.
At all points throughout the day when you feel as though you are in a stressful situation, just remind yourself that things could always be worse.
“Reflect and dissect on what made you stressed and find a solution. Understand that even though we go through tough situations and times where it seems like we can’t catch a break or even win, things are placed in our lives for growth. You’re bigger than your problems,” Jordan Smith said.
A stress reliever not mentioned on the list is surrounding yourself with family and friends.
QU Residence Life puts on many events on campus that give students an opportunity to step away from the homework, jobs, or sports and have an hour or so of fun.
