PSA

STRESS MANAGEMENT

A PATHWAY TO ACHIEVING A SOUND MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

Undo Jacob Fater
CVM II

Stress tremendously influences our lives and has much effects on our mental and physical health that we are often not informed about.  Of course, we all feel stressed at one time or another. It is a normal and healthy response to change or challenge. however, stress that lasts long can affect our health and happiness and for students, it may take a significant toll on grades.  In this write up, I shall explore some factors that tailor stress, and how to mitigate them.
The causes of stress may vary among individuals. However, some of the general potential origins of stress especially among students are ;
I.   Over feeding.
II.  Smoking cigarettes
III. Drinking alcohol and use of drugs,
IV. Sleeping too much or not sleeping enough, homework, extracurricular activities, and social challenges.
V. Romantic relationships can also add an extra layer of potential stress.
Having established the likely causes of stress, the next question is how then can we control or manage stress?

The first step in dealing with stress is to recognize the presence of stress in your life. Everyone feels stress differently. You may be angry or irritable, unable to sleep, or suffer from headache or stomach upset.

In addition, identify situations that can cause stress. These situations are known as stressors. Your stressors can be family, school, work, relationships, money or health problems. Once you understand where your stress comes from, you can think of ways to manage your stressors better.

Secondly, One of the healthiest ways to blow off the  steam  is to get regular exercise. Physical activity every day is the easiest way to manage stress. When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals that make you feel good.  Further more, when your body is experiencing a stress response, you’re often not thinking as clearly as you could be, thus, a quick way to calm down is to practice breathing exercises. These can be done virtually anywhere to relieve stress in minutes, and are especially effective for reducing anxiety before or even during tests, as well as during other times when stress feels overwhelming. 

Thirdly, yu may not realize it, but your diet can either boost your brainpower or sap you of mental energy. A healthy diet can function as both a stress management technique and a study aid. Improving your diet can keep you from experiencing diet-related mood swings. Avoid high-sugar snacks and consume plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean and dairy-free proteins.
Another convenient stress reliever that has also shown many cognitive benefits is listening to music. Music can help you to relieve stress and either calm yourself down or stimulate your mind as your situation warrants. Students can harness the benefits of music by playing classical music while studying, playing upbeat music to "wake up" mentally, or relaxing with the help of their favorite slow melodies.

Conclusively, always have enough sleep. Individuals, with their packed schedules, are notorious for missing sleep. Unfortunately, operating in a sleep-deprived state puts you at a distinct disadvantage. You’re less productive, you may find it more difficult to learn, and you may even be a hazard behind the wheel.

Don't neglect your sleep schedule.

A publication of PSA for education on improved academic performance and health status awareness