College Stress Relief: Ways to Reduce Stress
Carrying a semester load of classes, managing a social life and having free time can be extremely taxing for a college student. Here’s a useful guide to making sure you are feeling your very best during these stressful times.
Take care of your body.
REST. Listen, we know you’re working on tight deadlines and have plenty of due dates - but getting enough sleep each night is a necessity. Try to commit to 8 hours a night. If you can’t get in a full 8 hours, see if you can schedule some time for a midday nap.
Eat right. Believe it or not, an unhealthy diet can actually increase your stress levels. When you eat healthily, you prepare your body to fight stress. Try swapping your daily cheesy sugary carb-loaded snacks for some fresh fruit or protein bars. You should also try to reduce your caffeine intake - high doses can increase anxiety. This may be a hard task especially if you put yourself into a position where you need a few all-nighters, but five or fewer cups per day are considered an acceptable amount.
Exercise. Exercise is one of the most important activities in combating stress. NJIT has several exercise facilities, indoor track, pool, and a soccer field to keep your blood flowing. Research shows that people who exercise regularly are less likely to experience anxiety than those who don’t. Take a break from some homework to go for a jog on the track or to lift some weights.
Spend time with a support group.
Call friends and family. Receiving support from your family or your friends can get you through some pretty stressful times. A study found that for women, in particular, spending time with friends and children helps release oxytocin, a natural stress reliever.
Branch out and join a club. During this stressful time, you may start to feel lonely. Getting involved with groups or clubs around our campus can be a great way to combat this feeling. It may be a weird feeling to put yourself out there at first, but someone you meet may end up being your lifelong friend. You can find a full list of clubs and organizations to join here.
Interact with your pet. I mean come on, who wouldn’t want to do this anyway? But in all seriousness, it’s proven that hanging out with a pet promotes a positive mood. If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, it may be time to take your dog for a walk or cuddle on the couch with your kitten. If you live on campus and don’t have a pet nearby keep an eye out for “Pet a Puppy” days held by many organizations on campus.
Make it a priority to relax.
Listen to your favorite songs. Music can have a beneficial effect on our physiological functions, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the levels of stress and hormones. Next time you’re feeling stressed, listen to your favorite playlist. Or, you can listen to NJIT’s Top 100 playlist on Spotify here (Top 100, get it?)
Light a candle. Some scents of candles can be extremely soothing. Here are the most calming scents: Lavender, rose, bergamot, orange or orange blossom and sandalwood. For those living in NJIT dorms where you can’t light a candle, a diffuser with essential oils is also highly recommended!