How can I reduce stress as school begins?

Dear Reader,

The beginning of the school year can bring changes and challenges such as new classes, new roommates, and for many, a new environment. It's no wonder that one would feel stress as a result! Making a stress management plan at the beginning of the semester is just like getting vaccinated prior to the start of flu season: you want to inoculate yourself, as best as possible, to the volumes of stressors that await you in the coming months — especially around mid-terms and finals. Consider a "stress-management vaccine" with four primary components:

SLEEP: Try to get the nightly sleep you require to feel just right the following day, without having to drag yourself from class to class. Not only is it more difficult to deal with stress when fatigued, but according to research findings, sleep-deprivation also weakens immune system functioning. Sleeping the same number of hours each night, during the same time-block, can give you a more reliable energy supply. See the archived Go Ask Alice! answers about sleep for more info.

EXERCISE: Engaging in aerobic activities helps strengthen your body and allows it to be more resilient when it faces many of the psychological and physiological responses to stress. (Hint: some great aerobic exercise could include walking briskly, jogging, swimming, cycling, blading, playing tennis, basketball, volleyball, or racquetball, doing calisthenics, and working out on all those contraptions at the gym, including the stair-climber, treadmill, and rowing machine.) Aerobic action spends stress hormones, strengthens organs targeted by stress, improves sleep, and increases energy, just to name a few benefits. Most gyms have orientation programs to familiarize new users to exercise equipment, and to reduce the fear and discomfort felt by many workout novices.

In addition, the Alice! Health Promotion Program, encourages Columbia students and staff to exercise by joining the 100 m.i.l.e. (minutes I logged exercising) Club: spend at least 100 minutes per week being physically active during the fall or spring semester, and walk away with an exclusive prizes that says you've reached your goal! Visit the 100 m.i.l.e. Club website for more details and to join.

EAT: A healthy, balanced eating plan is another key ingredient in stress management. Search the Go Ask Alice! Fitness and Nutrition category for nutrition particulars — especially the question, Food Pyramid — How much is a serving?, for healthy eating tips. Eating patterns also need to be taken into consideration: heavy, meat-laden lunches make for lethargic afternoons, while caffeine, alcohol, and other drugs can put your energy cycle on a roller coaster ride.  Columbia students also have access to a Nutritionist at Health Services, call x4-2284 or go online through Open Communicator to schedule an appointment.

MANAGE TIME: Time management is really about self-management and priorities, and is discussed in the answer Life management. For starters, you might try making a priority list and a to-do list, and having a back up plan in case unforeseen interruptions occur. What must you accomplish every day/week/month? What other activities are fun and/or important to you? How would you ideally like to balance work, life, and personal/social activities? When will you take care of needs such as eating, sleeping, exercising, and relaxing? Making a list, or mapping your time on a calendar, can help you understand what is important to you and how you can work activities into (or out of) your schedule.

The way a person experiences stress relies partially on one's perception on the stressor. Keep a positive attitude and remember that stress is not always negative. Maybe you can find a way to harness any stress you feel into motivation for organizing and completing tasks. Additionally, if you keep a list of times you feel stressed, or things that stress you out, you may also be able to identify patterns and work out a plan of action.

Need a few other tips on how to relax? Try yoga, meditation, guided imagery, or diaphragmatic breathing. Columbia students can also take advantage of Stressbusters, a team of students who offer free brief back and neck rubs to the Columbia University community. If you do end up getting very stressed out, and are at Columbia, you may consider making an appointment at Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) at x4-2878. Professionals are available to help students with a number of life-, work-, and school-related issues, including stress.

For now: inhale….2….3….4…. and exhale….2….3….4….

Alice

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