If you type “how to deal with stress†in Google, over 2 million related sites come up, and I can’t say that I’m surprised. Stress is no longer a word; it is a part of our society.
With midterms coming up there is no question as to why students have more on their plate than they can handle. And what can they do about it? Take a time-out.
I checked out various websites to do some research on how to deal with this stress. Most websites make practical suggestions such as relaxing, exercising, talking it out, and prioritizing. Among the many sites I found that talked about these ideas, a small amount went into different directions saying stress is good.
TheBody.com writes, “stress adds flavor†to life and some stress is good; the fact that we may be stressed and anxious about a test, project or speech is good and shows we care.
Well, I think there is a point where we can care too much. Although a little stress is good and I do believe it helps motivate us to perform to the best of our abilities, too much stress can be bad for us.
When it feels like it’s becoming too much to handle, I think what we really need is a time-out. Alison Blackman Dunham on selfgrowth.com says easing stress starts with making changes within ourselves. “If you can’t change the world, change yourself.†We were not made to keep going and going. It is important to take a moment for ourselves and not think about our long to-do list or our numerous midterms.
We need a time-out where we can rejuvenate, gain the strength we need to plow through our to-do list, ace our midterms, and perform in our various activities. This is not wasted time, it is time that is going to help us to concentrate later.
As UCSB students we are fortunate to have many resources to help us de-stress. Whether you need to go talk to someone, take a couple minutes to sit in the egg or massage chair, workout at the recreation center, or take ten minutes to meditate. UCSB offers all of this and more! Not only will using one of these resources make you happy, but it will help you to concentrate, so you can focus while studying and while you are in class.
All of these resources can be found on the Wellness Program website, http://wellness.sa.ucsb.edu or for more information you can go to room 1325 at Counseling Services. You can also drop in building 599 or call (805) 893-4411 to make an appointment.
In this next week or two as things get busy, midterms come and go, and you realize third quarter is almost half way through, take advantage of these resources. Take a moment out from your busy day and let yourself relax. Life is short and it is not fun to live it stressed out the entire time. Call a time out.