Stress

About one year ago, I wrote about how stress impacts our bodies. In the short term, we may feel anxious, nauseas, even suffer from headaches and sweaty palms. In the long term, stress can be a factor in memory loss and in heart disease. Stress cannot be avoided all together considering the fact that we all lead complicated lives that seem to throw us continuous curveballs. So instead, it is imperative to look at ways to manage stress. There are many different perspectives on how this concept is best practiced (I have included some links to articles at the bottom of this page), but I would like to provide some insights from a performance psychology perspective. The most important thing to do first is figure out what are the sources of your stress. Then, you can work towards stress relief.

1. Deadlines- Whether in school or in the workplace, we all have deadlines and work that must be completed. Instead of worrying about things you will find a way to complete, put effort into completing the task. Unnecessary worry is wasting what could be productive energy.

2. Time management- Make a schedule and block out the time you have to complete all the tasks on your “to do” list.

3. Stress relief- For many people, exercise is the way to work off stress. If you are not that person, try other things like hot baths, meditation, or unwinding to your favorite tv show. Find what works for you.

Mayo Clinic

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/basics/relaxation-techniques/hlv-20049495

The American Heart Association http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/StressManagement/Stress-Management_UCM_001082_SubHomePage.jsp#mainContent