Lately, it seams that there is a lot more expected of college students. We need more internships, more extracurricular activities, more connections, etc. It’s enough to make the stress pile on high.
Many college students relieve their stress by turning to alcohol and drugs because it’s an easy option and they don’t know what else to do. However, there are many healthier ways collegiettes? can relieve their stress.
For example, exercising is a great stress reliever. Exercising releases endorphins into the body that help reduce stress levels. Endorphins are responsible for making you happy and they give you a positive sense of well-being. A cardio workout at the gym helps clear your mind and allow you to think more clearly after your workout. The UCF Recreation and Wellness Center offers group workout classes such as spinning, yoga, and boot camp if you don’t like working out alone. Hitting the gym three to five days a week will relieve your stress and make you a happier person overall.
Another way to relieve stress is to relax. It sounds simple, but it’s easier said than done. If you’re all worked up about school, work, your boyfriend or whatever it is, you’ll never stop unless you relax. Take a few deep breaths and calm down. Then have some “me” time. This means stop texting your friends and close your textbooks for a while. Get a pedicure, a massage or take a hot bath. Buy some lavender scented bubble bath. Lavender is known to slow down brain waves and alleviate stress just by the scent of it. After you’ve had some “me” time, you’ll feel much more levelheaded and ready to face what was stressing you before.
Sometimes your stresses can overwhelm you. If you’re feeling stressed all the time or you’re having issues with anxiety or depression and don’t know where to turn, seek out the UCF Counseling Center as soon as you can. It is free of charge for students and it’s open Monday to Friday. They offer individual counseling, crisis counseling, career counseling and much more. You can make an appointment by calling (407) 823-2811 or you can stop by. The office is located to the right of the Health Center. Remember: You’re not alone when you feel overly stressed or unhappy. It is very common for college students to feel this way. Do yourself the favor and seek out the help that is available to you.