Photo by: Ashley Alonzo
Midterms are over, and gone with them is that burst of motivation. But you know what did stick around? The stress. Maybe it’s that one borderline grade, anarchy in a big group project, extra circulars or the rollercoaster that is life in college. Whatever may be the cause of your stress, there are methods to combat it: Here are six simple ways to relieve stress!
Deep breathing
It really is that simple: Deep breathing soothes stress and encourages rational thinking, which can also cut down on worrisome thoughts. When feeling particularly overwhelmed, begin to inhale slowly counting to 10 and then exhale all the way back down to one. Repeat this as many times and as often as needed.
Exercise
Exercise releases chemicals in the brain called endorphins. This chemicals make people happy, and the happier a person is, the less room they have for stress. There are endless ways to get moving: Take a walk, go hiking, biking, play badminton, play hopscotch, play catch with a baseball, a football or a bouncy ball. Go play racquetball, take a jog or even take a foster dog on a walk … the list could go on forever!
Jam out
What better way to unwind a bit than to crank up your favorite tune and have a dance party for one … or for you and 10 of your closest friends. Whatever you prefer, this method can take a person from a tense to happy in no time.
Tidy up
Clutter can greatly add to stress, so cleaning up the space you are spending your time in can have extremely positive effects when it comes to battling stress. Folding laundry, picking up trash, organizing your desk, doing the dishes, vacuuming, sweeping and even mopping can offer relief as well as increase productivity.
Disconnect
Put down the phone, close your email and log off Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Tumblr. Life today is saturated with a constant flow of unnecessary information that can easily add to one’s stressful day. Disconnecting from excess information can instantly lower stress levels.
Meditate
Taking 10 minutes once or twice a day to sit, clear your mind of everything and just exist in the moment can greatly reduce stress. Combining meditation with deep breathing can act as a one-two punch to stress. Even better, meditation can be done just about anytime and anywhere, making it a great way to cut down stress.
There you have it. Six effective ways to reduce your stress at no cost. If you have a favorite one, don’t forget to leave a comment on our Facebook page and share your experience.