I don’t know about the rest of you, but this semester is kicking my butt.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but this semester is kicking my butt.
The realization that I had been neglecting my health hit me this past weekend as I sat on my couch, surrounded by various papers and books, finishing off yet another bowl of ramen. Between starting a new job, juggling a full course load of class work and trying to make time for myself in the margins of my seemingly endless to-do list, my stress levels have spiked.
I learned very quickly that the cause behind my recent bouts of severe lethargy was not solely a lack of sleep, but a mixture of unhealthy habits. I had not been eating well — I averaged one meal a day, intermingled with varying amounts of coffee to quell the protestations of my stomach. Contrary to what I wanted to believe, I was not Superwoman and could not survive on caffeine and willpower alone.
Desperate to fix my bad habits and, hopefully, prevent more damage to my body, I began researching tips to healthily deal with levels of increased stress. I gravitated toward the more reputable sources and found that the American Heart Association had several effective solutions. I self-tested a few of them and am anxious to share them with my fellow sufferers.
The first was “positive self-talk.” It is not uncommon when talking to others about class to say things like, “I’m swamped,” or “this test is going to be impossible.” By saying something is going to be highly difficult, we are making it more of a reality in our minds. This negative self-talk increases our stress levels rather than reducing them. The next time you find yourself stressing about a pile of homework or a test, say “I’ve got this,” instead of “This is impossible.” Create a healthy inner dialogue. It helps, I promise.
The second is to establish “emergency stress stoppers.” This has a lot of flexibility, so you can cater it to your own preferences. Some recommendations include: taking three to five deep breaths, going for a walk (or any form of exercise, for that matter), giving yourself a break (watch a movie, meet a friend for coffee, take a nap, etc.) or breaking down big problems into small parts — my personal favorite.
Eating well is another important healthy habit. In my search for healthy alternatives to my usual stress-reducing snacks, I found that they fell into the worst possible category. According to WebMD, I had been relying on “simple carbs,” such as sweets and soda. I didn’t need a website to tell me that this wasn’t healthy, but it did offer some solutions. Try substituting these quick-fixes for more complex carbs, like whole-grain breads or pastas that will release a steady supply of serotonin, a “feel-good” chemical, rather than small bursts. Other yummy options include oranges, black tea, pistachios, avocados and almonds.
For those of you who are expert stress-managers, I applaud you. For those like me, I hope this helps you in some way.
Good luck this semester, Bobcats. It’s only the beginning.
Olivia Hupp is a senior studying English literature and creative writing. How do you manage your stress? Email her about it at oh994610@ohio.edu.
