Entry # 10- Help Stress Less

Hello, welcome back!

With the semester coming to an end, we are all feeling some type of stress. Last minute assignments to complete, final exams coming up, and studying for hours on end. Stress is something we all experience, especially as college students, and there are ways to help get through this last stretch.

Stress can cause a lot of emotions such as anxiety, nervousness, depression, anger and overwhelm. These all have triggers and these look-like deadlines for certain things, work, and even having to do housework. Some people get overwhelmed and stressed if their area isn’t clean and it's hard to concentrate or even relax. Lack of energy is another way this stress can look. I know when I get home from a rough 12-hour day at work and come home to a mess, I get a bit irritated because now I feel I must clean so I can mentally relax.

Stress is not only emotionally draining but also mentally and physically draining. Getting help and talking can help lessen the stress you feel. Instead of being the strong one who can do everything at work, try to delegate and not take on so much. At home, maybe try a new organization setup that will keep you motivated to pick up after yourself in your room or have a chore chart for siblings to help with everyday chores. Have kids? This chore chart can also help them stay tidy so you don’t come home to a mess that you would feel you have to clean up.

There are days where you can’t seem to ever catch up with home chores, and that’s ok. There are many videos and website that help us when things get tough. There is a lady, Sydney Nordquist, who goes through a week and sorts out which rooms are to be cleaned on certain days and only limits a certain amount of time so that you are not too overwhelmed. For example, maybe the garage needs to be cleaned today, instead of spending all day, give yourself 15 minutes to do as much as you can and move on. This can help little by little accomplish your goal without having to stress yourself out. If Wednesdays are bathroom days, you clean the bathroom and check that off your list. Some of us don’t realize we put a lot of the work on ourselves and try to accomplish it all in 1 day. It doesn’t have to be this way. Once caught up you will see how great this system works and how much free time you will have.

Make time to study but also take a break and reset before continuing. This can also help you from burning out your brain! Hope this semester doesn’t overwhelm you and remember to make time for yourself as well! Have a great Summer Break! Until next time, bye!