Stress and How I Found Ways Around It

College is an amazing time filled with adventures, late night studying, and basically the opposite of every movie you've ever seen. Don't get me wrong, college has its times when you feel like nothing could ever be better than that moment, like you are in one of those movies. Except majority of the time it is very overwhelming; in between classes, homework, studying, work, friends, significant others, family, extracurriculars, and your basic needs like sleep and eating, life can get complicated and stressful. I have found through my experiences that relieving this stress is not very easy and stress relief happens differently for everyone.

And yet here I am. I have listed and explained a few ways I have learned have helped me relieve stress and how they can help you.

1. Shower: Whether it is a hot/warm shower or a cold shower just being alone under the running water to help you think or even to help you stop thinking. Showers are great because you need them. Granted if you take too many showers it is bad for your skin and will dry you out but a little extra time when you are stressed to help relieve your mind isn't going to kill you. Also it will help make sure you don't smell.

2. Hot Tea: Tea is an amazing stress reliever because it is warm and unlike coffee (unless you get caffeinated tea) won't keep you up and jittery. Wrap yourself in a fuzzy blanket and drink a cup of tea (possibly after that shower) to ease your mind of whatever is on it.

3. Movies: Now a movie marathon is never not a good thing. Put in your favorite movie and relax. The basis of this is to distract yourself from whatever is stressing you out. I am not a person that can sit and watch movies all the way through because I get anxious and want to do other things so if you are like me, pause the movie, do your laundry, make some food, just keep yourself distracted.

4. Bake: Baking is fun because in the end you get a fun treat to indulge yourself in and you are distracting yourself at the same time. Whether it is baking from scratch or from a box, turn on some music or a movie, and eat as much of the batter as you want. If you don't want to eat whatever you made bring some to your family and/or friends I am sure they will love you for it.

5. Have a Dance Party: This is by far my favorite. There is nothing better than dancing around to your favorite song without worrying what others are going to think of you. Do it alone in your bedroom, with your best friend, with your brother or sister, release all of the negative energy into positive fun.

Life is interesting and crazy and nothing is truly better than taking time and relaxing. I hope everyone can take inspiration from this and find their own ways to release stress and find ways to be happy and healthy.