There are probably a million ways to deal with stress. One way that has helped me the most is communicating with others (friends, family, loved ones, advisors, faculty, etc.). Sometimes I fail to recognize that there are problems that I cannot solve on my own and might need others to help me that find that guiding light. Personally I am a natural introvert and I find it hard sometimes to talk to others about what I feel inside, especially when I get stressed out about life, school, family, etc. but keeping all that stress inside won’t really help either, so venting and talking about it with someone might help because it might provide you with useful feedback and ideas that you may not have thought about yourself. It might not always be easy to find someone to talk to either, so it’s important to try to connect with those you trust and are comfortable with.

Other stress management tips:

1. Get sleep. Back in the day I used to do the whole energy drinks thing, try to study all night kinda stuff, but realized all that was bad news- I couldn’t focus and it made me more stressed out. Get a good amount of sleep (whatever works best for you) and you’ll be able to process things better later.

2. Stay positive. This might be hard to do, but keep your head up high and tell yourself that no matter what, you’ll make the best out of your situation and not let your situation get the best of you.

3. Exercise. Physical and mental stress go hand in hand. It’s important to stay active so your body and mind doesn’t fall back, get lazy and start cluttering with stress. I find that a jog or a walk outside helps.

4. Clean your room! Chances are your room is a mess. I bet if you clean it up you’ll feel a lot better. Trust me. When your things are organized, life is a lot better.

In the end, find what works best for you. I stress communication as an essential way of coping with stress, so don't ever be afraid to ask for help. If you ever need someone to talk to the Peer Advisors, CNR faculty and staff are here to help you.

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” - Buddha