Quick Ways to De-Stress

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Quick Ways to De-Stress

 

That time has returned; the time of late night study sessions and not being able to sleep, in fear that you might miss your alarm. With the return of school, so does stress! Believe it or not, stress can have a negative effect on one’s health. If you have ever experienced a stomachache before a big presentation, you now know of the impact of even minor stress.

Here are 5 tips for you to quickly reduce stress (all of which you can do between classes).

Take a breather!  Find a nice shady spot, take a seat (if wet, put down a jacket or towel if you carry one around), and close your eyes. Try the grassy area in front of the bookstore! Sit still and pay attention to your breathing. Notice your breathing. Is it fast and shallow? Slow your breath down, count to 5 on the inhale and 5 on the exhale, or even say to yourself “in” on the inhale and “out” on the exhale, breathing in deeply and breathing completely out.

Exercise! When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are hormones that boost your mood. Even little workouts, such as taking a stroll around campus, can make a difference. It helps to find something that you really enjoy doing. If you don’t like running on a treadmill, don’t do it! The SWRC offers a wide variety of classes such as Aqua Zumba or Cardio Kickboxing. To plan your next workout, visit http://www.asirecreation.org/.

Start Planning! Taking some time to fill out a planner can be very therapeutic, as well as help improve time management. This can help with stress both short term and long term, because it is will help you know a week in advance that a test is coming up. If you don’t want to spend the money on a planner, buy a blank notebook and make your own.

Try Acupuncture! The Health Resource Center in the Student Health Services on campus offers free acupuncture sessions. Acupuncture helps reduce stress, quitting smoking or even if you are in recovery from other substances. A licensed acupuncturist uses the ear area, so we can do this in a group setting. If interested, call 562-985-4609 or walk in to make an appointment.

 Visit the Japanese Garden! Get a moment of zen and indulge in the free beauty available at the Japanese Garden. Gorgeous trees and ponds with koi fish abound. For 50 cents, you can feed the Koi fish, but bring something to hold the food in, such as a small container. More information can be found at their website: http://web.csulb.edu/~jgarden/index.html.


Continue on in your journey at the beach, and don’t let stress keep you from achieving your goals. Go Beach!


Jessica Elderkin

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