Whether you are wading chest deep through your exam timetable, or your personal life has hit a rough patch (or both – eish, we hope not!), stress can get the better of us all. As with most things in life, there’s no such thing as a quick fix for stress and anxiety, which are two leading mental health concerns among students globally. However, you can get proactive about this massively important aspect of your wellbeing – your mental health.
Here are some practical tips from CompCare that you can apply to help manage your stress levels.
- Time blocking. Ever feel like the day somehow gets away from you before you can really achieve anything? Try reeling it back in with time blocking. This is an effective approach for achieving your weekly work, study and life goals without getting pulled off on tangents (ahem, TikTok – we’re looking at you). Set aside a moment every Sunday evening to plan your week ahead and block out the hours needed to realistically complete your greatest priorities. Put digital notifications and calls on mute during these time blocks so that you can stay focused and commit to your priorities for each day. Be sure to include time for breaks and meals. You’ll be surprised how much more you can get done with a focused approach and it will leave you feeling on track. Attending only to your greatest priorities rather than an impossibly long to-do list will also help you to feel less pressured.
- Lean into healthy habits. Stressful situations can lead to leaning on unhealthy habits as a crutch. And while devouring a family-size bag of chips might seem like a delicious distraction, it will only add regret to your pile of worries. Consider alternative ways to cope with stress – perhaps journaling, a breathing meditation, or some good old exercise. Physical activity is a great way to get your natural happy chemicals flowing (thank you, endorphins) and to clear your head. Even a ten-minute walk or stretch can be beneficial. Developing healthy coping mechanisms can set you up for handling life’s curveballs like the boss you were born to be, so give yourself a chance and see what healthy habits work for you.
- Just say no. Or at least, ‘can I think about it?’ Taking on too many tasks, projects and responsibilities can have a stress domino effect that may feel inescapable, but you do not have to agree to everything on someone else’s terms. Friends pushing you to have a big weekend when you’re trying to save money? Classmates asking you to handle the whole presentation? Auntie insisting that you visit when you have other plans? Try saying, ‘Can I think about it?’ while you consider whether you are able to take something else on, and if so, how you can do it in a way that does not add to your stress levels.