Stress is something that everyone experiences from time to time. Whether it’s stressing about an upcoming test or stressing about a job interview, stress can make people feel overwhelmed about different tasks. Although stress can be perceived as bad most of the time, it can actually be helpful in some situations. It can provide the motivation that you may need to finish a project before a deadline or maybe even persuade you to get out of your comfort zone and experience new things. Whatever the case may be, there are ways that you can prevent unwanted stress from occurring in the first place:

1. KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS

• Jumping into something you can’t handle can often leave you with stress and worry. When embarking on something new, know what your limitations are, and never bite off more than you can chew.

2. HAVE A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM

• When life gets tough, having someone to turn to can help. Your support system should include family, friends, and professionals if necessary.

3. UNDERSTAND YOUR TRIGGERS

• What stresses you out? Learning to avoid things that make you anxious, nervous or worried can be enough to help you live a life filled with less stress.

4. LEARN RELAXATION TECHNIQUES

• When stress comes calling, being able to relax can help you cope with it. Take the time to learn the techniques that make most sense to you.

5. MANAGE YOUR TIME

• Plan out your time wisely. This includes any situation, including school, career, or everyday life. Make sure to plan in plenty of downtime, too.

6. LEARN TO SAY NO

• When you say yes to everything, you eventually become overwhelmed. Make “no” a strong part your vocabulary, and only say yes to things that will be enjoyable for you.

7. EXERCISE

• Getting active releases hormones that can help you relax, stay calm and cope with life’s stressors. Even a small amount of exercise each day can work wonders.

8. BE MORE ASSERTIVE

• Learn to stand up for yourself and those around you. Never allow yourself to be bullied, whether it’s by fellow students, coworkers, a boss or anyone else.

Source: https://www.learnpsychology.org/student-stress-anxiety-guide/

These methods are meant to be used to prevent stress from happening to someone. However, we don’t always realize when we are starting to stress out. We will end up getting overwhelmed and maybe even stir crazy until we finally realize that we’re getting stressed, but not to worry. Even if you do become stressed there are still things you can do to try to alleviate life’s stressors.

1. GET PLENTY OF SLEEP.

• Not getting enough sleep impairs academic performance and makes it harder to get through the day.

2. THINK POSITIVE.

• Research has shown that positive thinking may improve physical well-being, produce lower feelings of depression and produce lower levels of distress.

3. HAVE A STRESS “OUTLET.”

• This could be a social activity like going out or participating in intramural sports, finding a hobby or joining a social club.

4. ENGAGE IN RELAXATION TECHNIQUES.

• This can include things like slowly counting to ten, meditation, thinking positive thoughts, visualization or playing with a stress ball.

5. TALK TO SOMEONE.

• Sometimes just talking about what’s stressful or having someone listen to your problems can drastically reduce stress.

Source: https://www.learnpsychology.org/student-stress-anxiety-guide/

Now these items that have been listed to help deal with stress before or after the fact may not work for everyone. Everyone’s situation is different and the way that one person reacts to a series of events may be different from another. That is why while this listicle may provide some tips on how to deal with stress, it is important for a person to know what strategies best work for them. Be able to know your limits and judge the best method to help resolve the stress you feel. However, if you feel like you still need more advice on dealing with stress, there is a short video below that may provide the assistance you need.