Stress Management And Mindfulness

School life is often described as one of the most fun, informative and versatile journeys of life. It not only makes us ready for a life ahead as an adult but it also puts us in situations of various challenges, which we learn to overcome over the years. Those friendships, school canteen dates or bunking of classes are some of the most fun moments, that people fondly remember. However, behind the façade of these happy memories, many of us tend to forget about the challenges student life comes with. Young people may find themselves rather stressed, due to either external or internal factors. High academic demands, tight schedules, numerous curricular and extracurricular activities, in addition to personal affairs, can contribute to emotional or psychological tension. 

The anxiety and tension of getting into our dream colleges are often present during the last years of school and thanks to some special relatives the pressure to perform well is sadly always HIGH. This not only puts a student under mental stress but also affects her/him physically as well.

• The following symptoms can indicate stress:
• Frequent headaches
• Sleep disorders
• Increased sense of vulnerability and irritation
• Fatigue and exhaustion
• Indifference towards favorite activities
• Unwillingness to communicate
• Desire for solitude

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about additional uncertainty about the future with it. With this now, it becomes even more important to break the stigma of mental health and empower the students in every way possible. 

You can’t possibly avoid all the stress of daily life and activities. There will always be something that will bother you. After all, that is life! Overcoming the various challenges at different stages of time. However, you can increase knowledge and awareness about this issue, and thus learn to cope with it quickly and effectively. Additionally, you will gain the ability to maintain a healthy psyche and emotional stability. 

So before we begin looking for answers and coping strategies that help deal with stress in a student’s life, let’s come true with one fact that at this stage of life where the mind is young and fully energized young people often tend to fall upon unwise ways to overcome the psychological and emotional pressure of this stage. Substance Abuse of various kinds, consuming large amounts of junk food, and becoming lethargic rather than participating in physical exercise tends to become a way of their lifestyle. However, in reality, the advisable ways to adopt for overcoming the mental stress of this period are quite the opposite!

So here I have penned down some of the ways that I have personally adopted in my life and highly recommend to beat the stress effectively without any harm caused.

First, get active!

Your body is just like any other machine it needs continuous oiling and maintenance. The best way to do that is to develop  an active lifestyle. Now it doesn’t also mean working out for 4-5 hours daily. No. Taking brisk walks or short morning jogs do the job just fine. Make it a point to engage yourself in some physical activity or other for an hour minimum daily. It not only refreshes your mind but the flow of enzymes during a physical activity  helps to improve  focus and concentration of the mind as well.

Second, plan out your day.

List down all the work to be done the night before. This helps in time management by keeping your work organised and reduces the stress and anxiety of your responsibilities as well. 

Third, set realistic goals.

The world out there already has a lot of stress so please cut yourself some slack and don’t pressurize yourself unnecessarily by setting utopian goals for yourself. Take it easy. Breathe. Take small steps and set realistic goals. You know your comfortable pace and your capabilities the best. So be kind to yourself.

Fourth, rest well and take frequent short breaks!

Rather than sitting for 5-6 hours straight and being able to retain only half the information, sit for sets of an hour accompanied by a short 15-minute break instead. It’ll help you focus better and retain more information. Have a set sleep schedule as well. A good sleep of 6-7 hours does wonders to your mind.

Fifth, join Collegify!

An e-learning platform used by passionate educators and schools around the world to individualize their students' study plans and dynamically map their progress with utmost ease. It’s engaging features and innovative tools drive students to maximize their potential. Collegify supports your learning journey and motivates you to excel. Join now and experience quality learning today! 

So these were some of the ways that I’ve personally used in my life. It’s no secret that emotionally-stable, well-balanced students tend to be more successful in their studies and future professional lives than those who are always worried or stressed out! Taking care of your mental health is extremely important. “A healthy mind is a healthy body.” So take care of yourself. Remember it’s never too late to change. Be kind to yourself and apply some simple strategies like the ones mentioned above to bust the stress.

Last but not the least, relax, BREATHE. You’ve got this.