According to the Mental Health Foundation, “Stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure.” It can be caused by events such as new experiences, losses of control, or unexpected tragedies. Everyone faces stress in their lives and some people are not well equipped to handle it. There are ways to deal with stress that have been proven to be effective by psychologists, medical institutions, and medical advisors. Fortunately for students, many stress-relief strategies can be performed anywhere. They take little practice, are absolutely free, and provide immediate results. These strategies include focused breathing and positive self-talk.
Focusing on breathing can make a big difference in stress level. When breathing is done correctly, it can calm the body and mind in just a few minutes. According to an award-winning blogger on stress management, Elizabeth Scott, here is how to achieve effective breathing: “Breathe in through your nose and imagine that you're inhaling peaceful, calm air. Imagine that air spreading throughout your body. As you exhale, imagine that you're breathing out stress and tension.” Whether in the middle of class or on the way to a class, students can use this breathing exercise to better calm themselves and ultimately combat stress. The next strategy, and arguably the most effective one, is positive self-talk.
Talking to oneself positively is one of the best ways to deal with stress. Healthline, an American website and provider for health information, explains how talking to loved ones and close friends is a great way for managing stress but is not always possible. As Healthline says, when it is not feasible to talk to others, “talking calmly to yourself can be the next best thing. Don’t worry about seeming crazy–just tell yourself why you’re stressed out, what you have to do to complete the task at hand, and most importantly, that everything will be okay.” We may not always think positive thoughts. Perhaps we put ourselves down by thinking we are not good enough or are flawed. A huge part of dealing with stress is being able to remain optimistic. It becomes more difficult to handle stress when we do not take time to think about our situation, let alone think things will get better. A good way to comfort oneself when faced with stress is to reflect on past achievements or accomplishments. Also, affirming oneself that a situation will get better can help a whole lot with fighting stress. Overall, thinking positive thoughts can help one defeat stress in an easier and more effective way.
Stress management techniques include breathing exercises and positive thinking practices as approved by professionals and institutions. Fortunately, these methods are readily available to everyone, easy to learn, free of charge, and often instantly effective. One can be sure that, if at any time he or she feels stressed out from the pressures of life, there are ways to cope with feelings of being overburdened. Ultimately, stress can be managed and should not discourage one from being able to pursue goals and accomplish great things.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.