SPRING OUTTA STRESS

by Fauver Colton

Okay, so April is the United States’ National Stress Awareness Month, and therefore, its only appropriate for there to be a section dedication to stress in The UB’s  Scribe. You will learn what stress is and what causes it along with discovering ways to ease stress.

What is stress? Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences.

There are four main types of stress, which are caused by a variety of things, but the worst types are internal and fatigue.

Internal Stress - Have you ever caught yourself worrying about things you can do nothing about or worrying for no reason at all? This is internal stress and it is one of the most important kinds of stress to understand and manage. Internal stress is when people make themselves stressed.

Fatigue and Overwork - This kind of stress builds up over a long time and can take a hard toll on your body. It can be caused by working too much or too hard at your job(s), school, or home. It can also be caused by not knowing how to manage your time well or how to take time out for rest and relaxation.

Everyone would love to avoid, and more realistically decrease their stress level. Here are some great ways to do just that!

1. Take deep breaths using your belly when you feel frustrated, angry, or emotionally unstable.
2. Take a walk, make sure you are alone, and do this regularly.
3. Stretching is very important to the de-stressing process.
4. Writing is very useful, whether it be poetry, writing letters to a friend, or keeping a journal. When you write you release subconscious emotions that you didn’t realize you had until they are on paper.
5. Eat healthy. Healthier.
6. Get a hobby, a hobby that you enjoy, something that will take your mind off things that do cause stress.
7. Make a ‘to-do list’. It is very important for people who are not well organized.
8. Also, hang out with your funniest friend more often. It’ll rub off and you’ll become more light hearted and less up-tight.

TIP: A great trick I learned for temporary stress relief and something that can calm you down is to close your eyes and gently put your fingers on the eyelids for one minute. Gently pinch the fleshy part of your hand between your thumb and index finger for about a minute, as well. Try it, it works!

Stress is inevitable, it cannot be beat, but it can be decreased. The best advice is to live in the moment. Carpe diem. Seize the day, and don’t dwell in the past, even two minutes ago, don’t dream in the future. Live for today.