This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at York U chapter.

With school back in session, students are one of the most common victims of stress. Factors such as financial expenses, overcommitment, family expectations, deadlines and workload all induce stress. While a mild amount of stress is very useful and acts as a motivation for students, too much stress can interfere with their daily lives. Practical stress management can help students deal with their worries and become more productive, competent and efficient. Here are a few tips for managing stress in the upcoming school year.

Manage Time

You probably hear this all the time but proper prioritization and time management is one of the most effective practices for stress relief. Whether it’s relaxation, work or study, your time must be spent wisely. Students have to be able to design and stick to a timetable and this is much easier when you allow for yourself to have breaks in between your workload. Choose a relaxing break like watching a show on netflix (only one though!) or just going out for a walk and getting some fresh air. Being able to allot time for your work and yourself will have you feeling much more relaxed and calm.

Photo via Thomas Leuthard

Exercise

A healthy lifestyle is essential for students, especially those living away from home. Instead of partying at night and being cooped up in your room studying throughout the day, take out time to get some air and exercise. You could take a walk through your neighbourhood and grab some coffee or even go for a run. Getting your heart pumping will not only give your mind something other than school to focus on, but it will also keep it sharp and ready to study once your break is over! You can work exercise easily into your schedules by doing yoga in the morning, walking or biking to campus, or reviewing for tests with a friend while walking on a treadmill at the gym.

Photo via i yunmai on Unsplash

Socialize

Trying to keep up with deadlines doesn’t have to mean giving up your friends. A cup of coffee with family or friends is all you need to bring your stress levels back to normal. Stress can get worse if you feel lonely. Expressing your thoughts to someone you trust can immediately make you feel a lot better, so when you’re stressed out the best thing to do is talk to someone about it. Heck, they’re probably just as stressed out as you are!

Photo via: Pixabay

Music

A convenient stress reliever that has also shown many cognitive benefits is music. Music can help you relieve stress, calm yourself down or stimulate your mind as your situation warrants. Students can harness the benefits of music by playing classical music while studying, listening to upbeat music to ‘wake up’ mentally, or relaxing with the help of their favorite slow melodies. This can help you stay focused on the content while studying, but can also be a great strategy to use while walking around on campus or gearing up for tests. I usually find that slow songs with a quiet beat make memorizing much easier than songs with a loud beat and various lyrics.

Photo by Aiony Haust on Unsplash

Being stressed is a part of life and as we grow, the more stressed out we tend to get. Don’t let stress get the best of you this upcoming school year. Instead, take time for yourself to get organized, make a schedule and learn to have fun while working. Not only will these tips help you get work done but they will also leave you feeling less stressed in the meantime.

For more info on how to manage and relieve stress, take a look at these links:

4 Ways to Be Stress-Free this School Year

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