Tag Archives: Stress

April 2, 2013

4 Tips To Set Your Mind At Ease

Filed under: College Life, Tips - Angelina
Tags: , , ,

Bailey Buckingham Blogger Biography

 

 

 

 

It’s easy to underestimate how stressful life can get, and that’s exactly what I did before this semester started. If you are like me and you have a job, sometimes it is hard to leave your work at work. I am now working full time, married, and going to school. I decided that I was going to work more and still be a student because I figured it wouldn’t change that much. I was totally wrong. I’ve found myself struggling to do homework, constantly thinking about work, and never doing laundry. It is such an easy cycle to get stuck in if you don’t take the time to plan out a strategy to pull yourself out. Here are some suggestions I have for you to ease your schedule.

1. Cut Back

For me, the first step was cutting back five hours of work. For some of you, I know that isn’t plausible, but for me that is what I needed to do. It made a big difference for my schedule. If you can’t cut back on hours, make yourself a designated time each week for you to have “me” time.

2. Shut It Down

Next, I stopped checking my e-mails after five o’clock every evening. It made me anxious when I read all of the group employee e-mails that are constantly sent throughout the night, so I decided I had to stop myself. There is nothing so important that should make me feel anxious even when I am sitting on my couch in my home.

3. Homework Time

Each day I give myself twenty minutes to get a little bit of homework done. It doesn’t allow me to get all of it done in one night, but it allows me to get enough done every night so that I don’t have to stress and do it all in one day.

4. Enjoy

The most important advice I can give is to enjoy what you have. It wasn’t until yesterday when my husband and I went to the park that I realized I haven’t been doing this. I was lying in the grass with my eyes closed listening to the birds and feeling the breeze and I realized that is what life is about.

“Rise up like the sun, labor till the work is done.” That’s a quote from the Killer’s song, “Be Still.” Listen to it below. It is a great song to make you realize life isn’t about your job, it’s about those moments when you get to breathe in the air and feel the breeze in your hair.

Remember to take moments to yourself to really enjoy life and let go of unnecessary stress.

 

Twitt
Add a Comment
Related Posts


November 1, 2012

Life Hands You Lemons: 5 Steps to Success

Filed under: College Life, Social Life/Relationships, Tips - Angelina
Tags: , , ,

Blogger Biography Kelsey Bradshaw

 

 

 

 

Every college student has those days where life not only gives you only lemons, but also gives you a good kick in the butt! You stress, you worry, you just don’t have enough time! Some of these days are just bad luck. However, managing these kinds of days is actually a lot easier than it seems.

1. Write

Sometimes, what stresses you out the most is just worrying about how many things you have to worry about. Take a moment and get them all out of your head and on to paper. Things written down tangibly in front of you seem a lot more manageable than easily-forgettable thoughts bouncing around in your head.

2. Perceive

If you have fifty things on your to-do list, it can be easier to just hide under the covers watching YouTube videos than actually trying to conquer your list. Do one small thing at a time to get started and perceive it that way to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

3. Plan

Sometimes, “too-many-lemons”days happen because we forgot about something like homework, or we put off something until something else is due and then it’s just a nightmare of lemons. To avoid this, keep yourself (and your deadlines) organized in a calendar. Whether it’s the one on your phone or an actual calendar, having reminders and set dates in front of you keeps you working on schedule.

4. Energize

Coffee, despite its wonderfully caffeinated properties, isn’t for everybody. But it is a great motivator when you’ve reached the end of your energy reserves and you need something to get you through the next three homework assignments. It doesn’t have to be coffee, but find something that puts a skip in your step, whether it’s a phone call to your mom, a snuggle with your significant other (or best friend, or teddy bear), or a stockpile of waffles.

5. Reward

Rewards are a great way to make anything fun. Get done with your reading? Buy a scarf online! Finish your to-do list? Fall asleep mindlessly watching cat videos! By making the completion of your task something to look forward to (and not just for the obvious reasons), you’ll fly through whatever you have to do.

Now, about those lemons…

When life hands you lemons wonder why life is handing you lemons in the first place cartoon quote

Photo © ROCCO THEGREAT

Twitt
Add a Comment
Related Posts


April 27, 2011

7 Secrets for Beating End-of-Semester Stress

Filed under: College Life, Health & Fitness - BookRenter Team
Tags: , , , , ,

As a college junior, I have experienced end-of-semester stress countless times. You know the feeling: Everything piles up until there seems to be more work in the last week of school than in all the preceding weeks combined…

I used to get so overwhelmed that I would chug energy drinks all day and study all night. Come exam time? I’d be too tired to focus.

But no more. I’ve learned. And you can, too.

by alancleaver_2000

Here are seven secrets to taking on finals week and finishing the semester strong.

  1. 1. Create a to-do list. Include all of the assignments you have to complete. Write assignments down in order of their importance and due dates. Set a goal for how many assignments you want to complete each day. You’ll be surprised at how much more effectively you’re managing your time.
  2. 2. Avoid unnecessary distractions. Stay off Facebook, turn off your cell phone, and stay away from the TV. Yes, these are all ways to relax. But they’ll derail your schedule, set you back on your school work, and cause you to be more stressed in the long run, not less.
  3. 3. Stay away from energy drinks. Sure, they may give you a bit of a jolt, but in the end, you’ll crash. And then? You’ve got another stressor on your hands – fatigue.
  4. 4. Go for a run instead. Running will help get your adrenaline flowing and clear your mind , replacing anxiety and stress with a sense of calm and purpose.
  5. 5. Eat fresh, nutritious food. Have you ever tried to study while your stomach was growling? Eating well also helps give you the physical stamina and enhanced brain power you need to put in a good day’s work.
  6. 6. Get a good night’s sleep. An all-nighter here and there during finals week is not out of line. But while it may seem like a good idea at the time – a reasonable way to get in more study time or complete an extra assignment – pulling an all-nighter is actually counter-productive. Without a good night’s sleep, you’ll be too tired to perform well on your exams.
  7. 7. Breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. Relax – you’re almost through. If you’ve paid attention and done well throughout the semester, then finals should be no problem for you. And remember, once all of your exams and projects are done, you’ll be free to enjoy your summer.

Kimberly

By Guest Blogger Kimberly Erskine I ROWAN UNIVERSITY:Currently her university’s Social Media Coordinator. Near-perfect GPA. Made it to Round Three of Charlie Sheen’s #TigerBloodIntern contest. This media-savvy girl – who dreams of becoming a successful writer and has just published her first major article – is seriously cool.

Twitt
View Comments | Add a Comment
Related Posts


February 9, 2011

Eric’s Top 4 Tips on Surviving College

Filed under: College Life, Health & Fitness - BookRenter Team
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

By BookRenter Eric

by BLW Photography

Dealing with Stress – The Little Things Make a Huge Difference!
A recent New York Times article shows the average college freshman’s mental health is at its lowest level in 25 years.  When I discovered this information I started thinking back on my freshman year of college and how difficult a transition it was for me.  This inspired me to think of some creative ways to help cope with the long grind that is college.

  1. Stay active – go to the school’s fitness center, play inter-mural sports, go on a walk, have a snowball fight… Do anything to get out and get your mind off school.  Exercise and stress: Get moving to combat stress
  2. Eat Healthy – If you’re sitting around eating pizza and cheeseburgers every day you might want to change it up and quick.  Eating healthy meals can have a positive effect on your academic performance.  You don’t have to go crazy and become a vegan, but simply adding more fresh fruit and veggies to your diet is a great start. 5 Stress-Reducing Foods You Should Be Eating
  3. Set Goals- You probably hear this all the time, but let me tell you a little secret, it seriously works!  If you want to avoid cramming and all-nighters set up a calendar with detailed descriptions of what you need to get done each day to keep you on track.  It might seem tedious, but it’s a great way to make sure you get everything done on time without going crazy.  Top 5 Tips On Second Semester Goal Setting
  4. Sleep, Sleep, and um more sleep –Socializing in college, especially living in the dorms, can be distracting.  If you find yourself slipping up in classes because you’re up playing video games with your roommate at 4 am, stop!  The video games will be waiting for you tomorrow.  Stress and Sleep Disorders

What do you to relieve stress?

Comment on our blog and be entered in to win one of our weekly coffee giveaways. Each winner will receive a $10 gift card, to  Starbucks. Winners will be chosen at random and announced each Wednesday.

Twitt
View Comments | Add a Comment
Related Posts


January 31, 2011

College Pets and Plants

Filed under: College Life - BookRenter Team
Tags: , , , , ,

BookRenter Andy

Last night I was reading this article in the NY Times about record levels of stress and depression being found in College students. For a while, I got depressed myself. Fact is that (especially in the thick of winter), it can get lonely as a college student. You’re having a hard time getting up for your classes, you probably don’t have time to shower or do laundry because you’re late for class, people don’t want to sit next to you because you haven’t showered or done laundry – a seemingly endless downward spiral.

What’s the remedy? For me it was the addition on my cat Karl which helped brighten my outlook. I immediately understood why some people believe that pets help you live longer. (Note: your college may not allow you to have pets – that’s why we included the plants in the blog post. Something for everyone, that’s how we do it here at BookRenter).

Depending on your situation, having a college pet (or plant) around can be a great way to relax, de-stress, and find some easy old-fashioned companionship. Here are a few stories about college pets (and plants):

Story 1, Mike, friend: Mike wasn’t a lonely guy, but he lived in a single by himself. He felt like he needed more companionship, something low maintenance that would keep him company, but not necessarily demand much attention. The solution? FISH. Mike bought a fish tank and populated it with beautiful fish. One turned out to be a tadpole and grew into a frog. Mike, his fish, and his frog lived happily until graduation.

Story 2, Nate, friend: Nate and his roommate were regular wanderers of the night. One night while wandering they found a nice kitten and took it home with them. The kitten was soft and friendly, but also grew into a fierce protector of the dorm, affecting a huge dip in the local rodent population. A win, win for all parties save the rodents.

Story 3, Senior Girls: Some girls I knew senior year attempted to keep a dog in the dorms for a period of time. Although the dog was nice to pet, it chewed textbooks by day and terrorized the dorm inhabitants by night. They ended up trading their dog for a Chia pet that looked like a dog. Don’t get a dog, kids, get a dog-like plant.

To sum up, key points here in this blog post:

  1. Pets will help you de-stress and make you live to be 120.
  2. Fish are good college pets; don’t forget to keep the water filter on.
  3. Lost kittens double as an effective pest control tool.
  4. If you can’t have a pet, there are always plants.

If you haven’t had enough, here’s a funny post about college pets.

Twitt
View Comments | Add a Comment
Related Posts