Dealing with Stress

If you're in school, specifically college, it's that time of the year where things get a little hectic. I'm in that same boat, every year and every end of the semester. Some of y'all have the privilege that others do not, a break for the holidays to recuperate. It can be so easy to get stressed out. A lot of assignments are due, exams, papers, finals, and all you want to do is take a break and rest. Here are some ways that I deal with stress:

Get Organized: Get yourself organized at the beginning of the semester. Get as many organizers, reminders, agenda, etc. to keep track of your assignments, tests, exams, and due dates. This is probably the hardest thing for me. I always have the intentions of keeping an agenda, but I end up 'forgetting' to use it after a couple of weeks. I have other reminders on my laptop and my phone. I also keep post-it notes around my desk to make sure I see them and remind myself what I need to do.

Block out a time to study: This is very important. If you don't make time for your assignments or put effort into studying, you will have a bad time trying to pull an all nighter or cramming before your test. You'll creating more stress and anxiety than if you had set a specific hour or two of the day to do your homework or study. It's hard to have time for everything that you want to do: working, spending time with friends, going to school events, and having alone time. But think about your long term goals and what you want to achieve out of school. You will get the grade you deserve if you put the effort and time into it. What you put in is what you get out!

Take a Break: Take breaks while you study or do homework so that you don't burn out. I usually do 20 mins of work and take a 5-10 min break in a 2 hour study session. I like to do stretches, get a snack, walk around, have a bathroom break, or anything to give my mind a rest. It's important to do this so that when you get back to doing your work, you feel refreshed and have a burst of energy. I also like to find a funny YouTube video to watch to make me feel better. Be careful to not take your breaks too often or for too long. Set a timer to make sure you're following through with your studying plan.

Go to the Library: Or somewhere else that can help you stay focused. The library is the most obvious place to study, but sometimes people can be rude, uncourteous to others, and loud in the library. I suggest finding a place in your house, apartment, or dorm to study. I like to go into an empty classroom and do my studying there. It helps me concentrate because I'm in a 'classroom' environment.

Stay Positive! A little bit of suffering now for good grades and paying for your education is just a pathway to the future you envisioned. Just know that hard work does pay off and it will continue to pay off because you know how hard you worked to achieve what you want.

Here's a picture of some puppies to help you destress :)