5 Best Stress Management Techniques for Students

Posted on July 7, 2021 by Joseph Gerard

Smiling woman with laptop giving thumb up

By Shristi Patni

Students today experience a significant amount of stress that takes a toll on their grades, health and happiness.

A study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that teenagers have similar stress results as adults.

This means teenagers experience chronic stress and have little means to cope effectively. They feel sad, depressed or overwhelmed and don’t know how to reduce stress.

Stress also affects health-related behaviors such as exercise, diet and sleep patterns which when combined, takes a larger toll.

Causes of Students Stress

Another study was conducted to find the most common causes of stress among students. It was found that most of the stress is caused by school and their activities.

Chronic stress, if untreated, can persist into college years leading to mental health issues and academic disengagement.

The most common causes of stress among students include:

Work
Relationships
Transitions (living independently, moving out, graduating)
Social challenges
Extracurricular activities
Homework
School

High school students are the worst hit amongst all the students. They have to take up challenging courses, face intense competition, participate in extracurriculars, study, ace placement tests and plan for their future.

College is another place that causes a lot of stress amongst students. Once a student is accepted, the stress continues. The need to make new friends, fit in, handle the challenging workloads and live independently. Romantic relationships cause an extra layer of stress.

Students don’t understand how they can manage stress and navigate their life better.

With a full schedule of lectures, activities and assignments it’s difficult to dissipate stress.

This is why we bring you the 5 Best Stress Management Techniques for Students.

Tired Black Girl Waking Up In Bed With Sleep Mask

#1. Get Proper Sleep

The number one mistake you make as a student is compromise on your sleep.

And it’s okay to stay up a night or two when you’re having fun but maintaining a proper sleep schedule is crucial to keep stress at bay.

When you deprive your body of sleep, you reduce your productivity. You feel sluggish and disoriented throughout the day.

This hinders your learning abilities and causes additional stress of missing out on your studies.

Have a strict sleep schedule. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Don’t shy away from taking naps either.

Beautiful sunset run

#2. Exercise

The easiest (and cheapest) way to blow off some steam is to start exercising.

You can easily incorporate a small exercise routine into your daily schedule.

Walk or bike to school or college or do Yoga in the morning.

Exercising as little as 15 minutes a day will have a major impact on your overall health and well being.

#3. Start Visualizing

You can use guided imagery to reduce stress. It’s effective, easy and doesn’t require a lot of time.

Visualizations help you calm down, detach from everything and relax.

It’s also an excellent way to prepare yourself for the things that causing you the most stress.

For instance, if you’re nervous about giving a speech, sit down, light your favorite scented candle and visualize yourself giving the speech.

You’ll feel less stressed when you see yourself performing just like the way you wanted to and will by being able to prepare early on.

Woman relaxing on a sofa listening to music

#4. Listen to Your Favorite Music

Research suggests that listening to music can help reduce stress.

It helps you calm your mind and stimulate it as the situation demands.

Relax with your favorite melodies, “wake up” mentally by listening to upbeat music and play classical music when studying.

#5. Get Organized young man start up working on desk

Clutter can cause immense stress, decrease your productivity and can also cost you money.

Most students are guilty of living in cluttered spaces which often leads to negative effects on their grades.

One of the best dress management techniques is to stay organized.

Ensure that your study area is a soothing, minimalist space that’s devoid of clutter and distractions.

This helps reduce stress and saves time in finding lost items and keep you positive.

A clean and tidy space will encourage you to study more and get better grades.

It’s actually worth the effort.

The Takeaway

Stress is a part of human life and the sooner you understand how to deal with it, the better it is.

The best stress management techniques still pretty much remain the same: eat well, exercise regularly, get proper sleep and do things that make you happy.

Other than that, self-talk and use affirmations to help you stay happy and stress-free.

Which stress management techniques work for you? Do you have any other techniques that help combat stress? Tell us in the comments section below.

Author Bio: Shristi Patni

Picture of Shristi Patni

Shristi is a content writer and owner of F and B Recipes. She enjoys creating a list of “Things That Make Happy” or coming up with creative Food Blog Names. Formerly the Chief Content Officer at Raletta, she is currently working on her second cookbook.

Facebook: F and B Recipes

Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consultant Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals.

Tips for Healthcare Workers Wishing to Hone their Fitness

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Joseph Gerard

woman exercising By Lucy Peters

Compared to other professions, staff in some healthcare professions (for instance, nurses) have a six times higher prevalence of back pain. Tasks such as transferring patients and operating in awkward postures can cause lumbar tissue damage and back pain, but this is only one of many health risks associated with the health profession. Employees working in healthcare can also face high rates of stress and tiredness owing to factors such as long working hours, shift work, and working in times of risk (as is the case during the global health crisis). How can physical activity help quell stress and pain and reduce injury and how can healthcare workers ensure they get the recommended number of minutes of exercise per week?

Exercise Reduces Pain and Stress

As stated in a study by Ann-Kathrin Otto and colleagues, published in the journal BMJ, the efficiency of ergonomic training and exercise when it comes to reducing pain, is well-documented. Previous studies have shown that moderate exercises (including cardiovascular and stretching exercises) reduce musculoskeletal problems, boost muscular strength, and enhance cardiovascular fitness among nursing staff. Research published by the Mayo Clinic shows that employees in medical centers report high levels of stress. Of the many natural modes of quelling this stress, just a few found to be particularly effective include general physical activity, mindfulness-based activities such as yoga, and time spent in nature.

Exercise and the Immunity

A 2020 study by researchers at the University of Bath found that regular, daily exercise benefits one’s immunity, even during tough times. It helps the immune system “find and deal with pathogens, slowing down changes that happen to the immune system with aging.” Equally important is diet. Certain foods strengthen the immune system. These include healthy Omega-3 fats, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and probiotic and fermented foods. When you eat is equally important; the gut has a memory and when it is expecting food, it ramps up the activity of immune cells to attack incoming ‘bad bacteria’. Sticking to regular meal times ensures these cells are able to exercise their function.

Exercise at Work

Over 50% of employees report that they have little time to exercise because of their busy work and home lives. As stated in a recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, one solution is to include more activity at work. In one study, ‘treadmill workstations’ – in which employees were made to work while walking, significantly increased fitness levels and BMI measurements. Another study assigned participants a mandatory activity of middle-to-high intensity workouts for around 2.5 hours a week during work hours. These incentives clearly need to be offered and organized by work organizations, but what can you do if your place of work does not adopt programs that boost employee fitness?

Individual Efforts

The key to making the most of the little time you may have is to do as much as you can. Did you know that running for just 15 minutes a day can reduce the risk of major depression by 26%? Official recommended guidelines stipulate that all individuals should complete at least half an hour of moderate intensity exercise every day. The good news is that these 30 minutes do not need to be continuous. That is, you can complete 10 minutes on your way to work, 10 minutes at lunchtime, and 10 minutes at the end of the day. You can also embrace activity in small but significant ways – including taking the stairs instead of the lift when you can. For extra health benefits, engage in vigorous activity (think cycling, jogging, or interval training) for half an hour at least three times a week. Vigorous exercise is particularly effective because it improves the efficiency of your heart and lungs, and more oxygen is delivered to your muscles.

Even if you are very inactive, becoming slightly more active can help you reap big benefits in terms of fitness and pain reduction. At the very least, aiming for around 30 minutes of moderate activity per day can help strengthen your cardiovascular system. So, too, can finding practical ways to be more active – including walking while working when possible, stretching throughout the day, and taking advantage of work breaks to be more active instead of taking a sedentary pause.

Stress Management Blog: Good Stress?

Posted on February 20, 2013October 20, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

female nurse — Stress management blog advice is a great way to keep yourself informed.

Stress Management Blog look at Healthy Stress.

The article, “Good Stress: Does Stressing Out Have Benefits?”, by Melinda Wenner Moyer states

“There are three things we’re guaranteed in life, says health educator Carol J. Scott, MD: “Death, taxes, and stress.” And that can be a good thing — the stress part, that is.”

For the full article please go here.

A stress management blog can be a good source of information if you need further advice on how to keep your stress levels in check. Remember to keep yourself balanced when dealing with stress. If you can do this you will be able to reap the benefits of short term stress.
For more information about stress management and online stress management courses, please follow this link to our website.