5 Stress Relieving Tips

Picture this: you鈥檙e walking听between buildings听to your next class when that acquaintance whom听you haven鈥檛 seen since听JumpStart听asks, 鈥淗ow are you?鈥. You smile and wave as听the obligatory听鈥淚鈥檓 good! How鈥檙e you?鈥澨齭lips out of your mouth鈥 Are you though?

No, really.

Take a moment to think about how your stress levels have been.听

With a new semester comes new responsibilities,听changes in听friend group听dynamics,听and听a completely different workload.听Having new pressures pile on听at the start听of the听semester听is almost always expected,听if not inevitable. How we decide to respond to that stress, however,听speaks multitudes of our character. Take these next few minutes to breathe deeply and apply a tip (or two, or five) in your life as a busy student听this semester.听听

Tip #1:听Get outdoors

Okay, before you click away, let me听remind听you that getting outside when you feel that stress starting to pile on will do a multitude of good for your semester. Not only is getting the daily dose of vitamin D good for the physical being, but it also corresponds to a healthy mental state. Even your spiritual state can be refreshed by just taking time to honor God through the use and appreciation of His creation. What are you waiting for? Get out there!听Autumn听is finally in Watertown鈥攇et outside听with a friend or two to听watch the leaves turn at iconic spots such as Devil鈥檚 Lake or Holy Hill. Our surrounding Wisconsin area will not be running out of beautiful places to explore any time soon.听听

Tip #2:听Find your creative outlet

I may seem bold to suggest that you add yet another thing to your absolutely crazy schedule, but it is also proven that having a creative outlet as a way to let off steam or express emotion is a great tool for college students. Your outlet could be anything from learning a new instrument (did you know that the Watertown Public Library allows you to check out听听if you are a cardholder?), to听perfecting your green thumb, to learning how to do basic maintenance on your own car. Whatever hobby you may pick up, allow yourself to genuinely appreciate the moments you have to focus on a passion separate from school. Remember that your outlets do not have to break the bank and consider bringing a friend or two along on听the听journey!听

Tip #3:听Take the focus off yourself

Friend, can I assert that the moment you become too self-focused is when the stressors of this life will start to feel like they have more power than they do? College is known as being a great time to focus on oneself, but we can often skew a well-intentioned piece of advice and quickly morph into the narcissistic coffee addicts we see in the mirror. When you are so focused on yourself and your stress, every little task can feel overwhelming. That puddle you had to mop up is suddenly Lake Michigan and you find yourself defeated before you鈥檝e even had a chance to bring your battle before the听Father鈥檚听throne.听

Rather than only focusing on yourself,听I challenge you to听be intentional with the semester听and opportunities听in front of you.听Perhaps听this听looks like听finding听someone you can invest in long-term.听Or, perhaps听this means finally getting听involved in church ministry or听asking听more听questions听about your society鈥檚 involvement in the community. Maybe听taking the focus off yourself听simply means taking time to learn more about your roommates and being more intentional about time spent with them听this semester. Be wise about accomplishing what you are called to do without developing tunnel vision.听Take the focus off yourself!听

Tip #4:听Do the next thing听

Did you know that sometimes the kindest thing a person can do is cut you off while you鈥檙e complaining? A few semesters ago I experienced this kindness when a certain beloved professor stopped me mid-rant and said five little words that changed my life forever: 鈥淛ust do the next thing.鈥 I had zoomed out of the picture to the point where I began panicking about work that was two months away rather than focusing on the tasks at hand. When stress seems to pour out of every part of your day, remember to pour out some grace for yourself (and others) and to听just do the next thing. We are only asked to do our best鈥攁nd for God鈥檚 glory rather than our own.听听

Tip #5:听Spend more time with Jesus听

Any student can relate to how the busyness of a schedule can negatively affect relationships with others. It鈥檚 easy to get lost in your sea of work, only to realize that you haven鈥檛 talked to that friend (or even worse, haven鈥檛 called your mom!) for weeks at a time. Just as you need to be intentional in not neglecting friends or family during times of stress, make it a point to not forget your relationship with God or let it turn into routine amidst the hustle of the semester.

Rather, I assert that you should be leaning even more into who He is when you see how crazy schedules and workloads are becoming. Instead of putting aside devotions and prayer time, utilize your direct access to His Word and His throne room! God uses stressful times to grow His children, and how we respond now is shaping who we will become. While this is a counter-cultural idea these days, remember that we, as humans, are not equipped to be the sole provider of our peace. Fully rely on Jehovah-Shalom (the LORD is Peace) instead. The Apostle Paul encourages the believers听in听Philippi to do just this in Philippians 4:7-9. Take time today to thank the Lord for what you will learn from this season and ask for His strength and peace to sustain you.听

So, friend鈥攋ust听how are you handling stress these days?听As you听settle into this semester鈥檚 routine,听consider听utilizing these five tips.听Take a step away from the textbooks, assignments, and papers when possible and do something to engage your brain听and body听in a听fun and听meaningful way.听Whether this听means going outdoors or exploring a new creative outlet,听recognize听that taking care of your headspace and physical self will help you as you navigate stressful听situations. Remember to take the focus off yourself and to just do the next right thing. Relax those shoulders, unclench your jaw, take a few deep breaths, and rest in the knowledge that the Prince of Peace has promised to provide for you.听听

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