9.18: Text- Ways of Managing Stress

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Lumen Learning
Lumen Learning

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The best strategy for managing stress is by taking care of yourself in the following ways:

Avoid drugs and alcohol. They may seem to be a temporary fix to feel better, but in the long run they can create more problems and add to your stress—instead of taking it away.
Manage your time. Work on prioritizing and scheduling your commitments. This will help you feel in better control of your life, which, in turn, will mean less stress.
Find support. Seek help from a friend, family member, partner, counselor, doctor, or clergy person. Having a sympathetic listening ear and talking about your problems and stress really can lighten the burden.
Connect socially. When you feel stressed, it’s easy to isolate yourself. Try to resist this impulse and stay connected. Make time to enjoy being with classmates, friends, and family; try to schedule study breaks that you can take with other people.
Slow down and cut out distractions for a while. Take a break from your phone, email, and social media.
Take care of your health.
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
- Exercise regularly
- Get plenty of sleep
- Try a relaxation technique, such as meditation or yoga, or treat yourself to a massage
- Maintain a normal routine

The following video features a progressive muscle relaxation meditation for you to try. There are many many others available on YouTube and elsewhere.

An interactive or media element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: http://pb.libretexts.org/colls/?p=474

If the self-care techniques listed above aren’t enough and stress is seriously interfering with your studies or life, don’t be afraid to get help. The student health center and college counselors are both good resources.

College Success. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Meditation. Authored by: UNH Health Services. Located at: https://youtu.be/PYsuvRNZfxE. License: All Rights Reserved. License Terms: Standard YouTube License

Coping with Stress. Provided by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Located at: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pub/coping_with_stress_tips.html. License: Public Domain: No Known Copyright