There are only a few more weeks left in the fall semester of 2013. No doubt most students are feeling the crunch, and stress will abound. However, the students need to get away from it. Stress can lead to the depletion of telomeres (the parts of the DNA that cause aging), cancer, clogged arteries and finally the neurons in the brain, which can shrink, making it difficult for your memory and learning regions of the brain.
The best way to combat the end of the semester stress fest, is to simply get a handle on it before it blooms into social anxiety, heart arrhythmia and no doubt, the end of semester cram session.
So, here are several helpful tips, tricks, and activities that may help even the most nervous person settle into a suitable place.
1- Do not mind failure: Now, this doesn’t mean that you should feel free to let every one of your grades slip into the ether. However, if one or two assignments just don’t go your way, take it with grace and style, surely you will be fine in the long run.
2- Eat Right: A student may think that they do not have any time to cook for themselves. They may often decide to put all their time and energy into their work. Often this means take-out or burgers at the dining hall, but if a student has the means to, they should cook simple meals that are full of nutrients. However, if you want real stress busters, try these foods: Almonds, Sweet potatoes, turmeric, cinnamon, olive oil, walnuts, blueberries, asparagus, avocados, and maybe a little oatmeal. If the mood strikes though, go grab that cookie or that plate of macaroni and cheese. Just the act of eating pleasurable foods (high starchy, calorie rich food) allows the individual to relieve stress. However, do not gorge, these foods should only be eaten once in a while, and remember…eat slowly.
3- Wear Comfortable Clothes: It’s finals…no one really needs to look that good. Just be comfortable, rather than being stylish.
4-Take a moment for yourself: No one should spend all their time on getting their assignments done. The project due may be hectic, the paper may be exasperating, but a student should never hide themselves away from others. Worrying over that paper will only bring pain and heart-break. Take some time to get some human interaction in. Live a little. Don’t forget though, you still need to finish that paper or project.
5- Don’t go for all night sessions: Most students at the end of the semester spend most of their nights cramming for a test or getting a project done. People need at least eight hours of sleep for a reason, if we do not get enough sleep we lose focus and energy, eventually leading to stress.
6- Do not go in alone: This one is simple, have someone to help you in times of need. Maybe a friend of a friend has taken the class, or is currently taking the class you are struggling with. They can possibly help you with the things that you may be finding difficult.
Everyone needs to have someone to talk to. So, get a buddy or someone to confide in, and just go at it together.
These years are going to be only a taste of the stress that an average person will deal with. So, take the bull by the horns and take life by the horns. Everyone should be able to deal with their stress neatly and easily, and be able to be happy.