Stressing over stress: helpful hints to cut down on problems

This archived article was written by: Lisa Anderson

Lisa Anderson
staff writer
[email protected]
If I asked everyone reading this article to raise their hand if they have ever experienced stress, I’m certain I would see a sky filled with hands. It is no secret we live in a world of convenience, yet day-to-day living is becoming more stressful. Where exactly is all this stress coming from and how can we get rid of it?
One major source of stress, especially during the holiday season, is financial stress. With gifts to buy, new classes to register for and general bills to pay, it’s easy to suddenly find your wallet empty at the worst possible moment. Instead of panicking and adding to your stress level, try planning ahead. Gifts can gradually be purchased throughout the year, leaving only one or two to worry about at the last minute. Class registration and general bills can be treated the same way, preventing a sudden pileup around the holidays.
Speaking of classes, school is another source of stress. A full schedule of classes can lead to juggling your time each day. Add to that a few hours of homework, as well as another chunk of time for any clubs or school activities, and even the best student can be brought down by stress. Thankfully there is one easy way to avoid school stress; and that is balance. Never take more classes than you can handle. Many students focus only on graduation and they end up trying to juggle six or more classes at once. Instead take the number of classes you can handle, which will also help ease the stress of too much homework. After that, it is simply a matter of only attending extra curricular activities you are certain you can handle.
Work-related stress goes hand in hand with school stress. After a day of classes, many students have to work the rest of the day, leaving no time for themselves. Most jobs have strict work schedules, leaving little leeway to pick and choose the hours you can handle. Many students end up working on their homework during their lunch break, which can lead to other problems. Unfortunately there are no easy solutions to work stress. While some managers will be understanding with student needs, sometimes the need for money outweighs the need for a stress-free life. Some jobs are very relaxed though, and allow you to work on your schoolwork on-site. Only your manager can fully tell you what your options are.
A final stress concern, especially during the colder months, is health. Colds, flues and other illnesses abound this time of year. Many students will catch something, forcing them to miss school or work. Missed days lead to worries of piling homework and loss of work funds, both of which spell disaster during holidays. To avoid this, take care of yourself. Drink orange juice, dress warmly and stay current on health checkups. A bit of careful planning can go a long way to avoid illness.
Many people try to ignore stress, pushing it to the back of their minds and leaving it to be dealt with another day. Pushing stress aside can be dangerous in the long run. Several studies have shown a direct connection between stress and various illnesses. It is recommended that people suffering stress find ways to deal with it. Problems only become worse if pushed aside and allowed to accumulate.
Stress is a major problem in most people’s lives. Unchecked, it can snowball into something most cannot handle. With a bit of planning, that snowball can be avoided. Instead problems are broken up into smaller pieces that are much easier to deal with. There is no magical cure-all for stress, but we can chip away at it bit by bit, leaving something we can handle.