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Whether you’re working or studying all day, stress can be extremely frustrating to deal with. Stress can be caused by so many different issues that students and professionals have to deal with on a daily basis. Additionally, because some people work from home and others go into the office, it can be hard to apply the same techniques to uniformly reduce stress no matter where you are. However, these four quick ways to help with a stressful situation are helpful whether you’re at your desk with colleagues, at home, or just at the Bentley library cranking out an assignment.
- Call or text a friend or family member to vent!
- It’s always helpful to talk to somebody if you’re stressed, especially if the stress was caused by a situation that needs solving. If you’re at the office, take a phone break away from your colleagues and superiors for a few minutes to talk to a loved one. Sometimes complaining can really quickly help release some pent-up frustration and may be exactly what you need. If you don’t have time or capacity for a call, send a quick text. Or, if you’re in a situation (such as when you’re studying with friends), consider taking a coffee break and chatting. Sometimes, getting your mind off your stressor can also be exactly what you need.
- Take a walk or stretch at your desk.
- Sometimes, taking a deep breath simply isn’t enough. Move your body and take a short lap around the office or outside if you can. Getting some fresh air and possibly sunlight can be extremely helpful for dealing with stress. If you don’t have enough time for a walk, make sure to take some time stretching at your desk and getting your blood flowing a little bit. Sitting down for prolonged periods of time without moving can often make our stressful situations a lot worse!
- Write down your frustrations!
- Grab a piece of paper and write a little note about the cause of your stress and possible solutions. Writing has often been said to be therapeutic and writing everything down, may help clear up and compartmentalize your stress, allowing you to move on with your day. It may also help you make goals and move toward a long-term solution to the situation and stress.
- Shut your brain off for a few minutes or listen to a favorite song.
- Take a mental break. Close your eyes, massage your temples, invest in a stress ball, meditate, or do anything else that you need to separate yourself from the stress. Because stress is often made so much worse when we are tired, take a short nap if you are able. Do something that brings you happiness and gets your mind off whatever is upsetting you. Or take a music break! Pop some earbuds in and listen to a song to either relax you or hype you up.
While sometimes professionals and students are worried to take steps to relieve their stress for fear of getting sidetracked or looking unprofessional, it’s important to remember that people typically function a lot better and are much more efficient when levels of stress are lowered. Additionally, because all of the things on this list would not bring attention to you or take longer than ten minutes, they may be worth doing. Additionally, unless you hide your stress really well, it’s likely that people will notice that something is wrong. Remember that all of these small tips are for daily and relatively small stressors, if something is truly wrong or happening in your life, make sure to take additional and more drastic measures such as taking a personal day or reaching out to someone for help.
