Ways of reducing and managing stress
A feeling of control and a healthy balance
in your schedule is a necessary part of managing
stress.
Learning how to manage your responsibilities,
accomplish your goals and still have time
for rest and relaxation requires that you
practice time management skills.
Try setting a specific goal for yourself 
that will improve your mood and help you reduce
stress.
Start by filling out a goal-setting worksheet.
Avoid procrastination.
Putting off assignments or responsibilities
until the last minute can create more mental
and physical stress than staying on top of
them.
Procrastination can affect many aspects of
daily life, such as the quality of your work,
the quality of your sleep, and your mood.
To learn more about procrastination, click
here.
Exercise regularly.
Physical activity can help you burn off the
energy generated by stress.
Practice good sleep habits to ensure that
you are well-rested.
Sleep deprivation can cause many physical
and mental problems and can increase stress.
Try mindfulness meditation.
Attend this workshop to learn a variety of
ways to work more skillfully with the stress
and anxiety related to college life.
Limit (or eliminate) the use of stimulants
like caffeine, which can elevate the stress
response in your body.
Pace yourself throughout the day, taking regular
breaks from work or other structured activities.
During breaks from class, studying, or work,
spend time walking outdoors, listen to music
or just sit quietly, to clear and calm your
mind.
Start 
a journal.
Many people find journaling to be helpful
for managing stress, understanding
emotions, and making decisions and changes
in their lives.
Realize that we all have limits.
Learn to work within your limits and set realistic
expectations for yourself and others.
Plan leisure activities to break up your schedule.
Click here for a list of fun things to do
on campus.
Recognize the role your own thoughts can play
in 
causing you distress.
Challenge beliefs you may hold about yourself
and your situation that may not be accurate.
For example, do you continuously fall short
of what you think you �should� accomplish?
When our minds continuously feed us messages
about what we �should� achieve, �ought�
to be, or �mustn't� do, we are setting
ourselves up to fall short of goals that may
be unrealistic, and to experience stress along
the way.
Learn techniques for replacing unrealistic
thoughts with more realistic ones.
Find humor in your life.
Laughter can be a great tension-reducer.
Seek the support of friends and family when
you need to �vent� about situations that
bring on stressful feelings.
But make sure that you don�t focus exclusively
on negative experiences; try to also think
of 
at least three things 
that are going well for you, and share those
experiences.
Try setting a specific goal for 
yourself 
that will improve your mood 
and 
help you reduce stress.
Start 
by filling out a goal-setting worksheet then
help yourself stay 
on track by using 
your weekly motivator worksheet.
