Let’s face the facts: college, work and life are stressful. Often, this stress can lead to depression or even thoughts of self-harm or suicide, especially in college students. There are alternative ways to deal with stress though, some even as close as your own home.
One of the most popular ways to deal with stress is yoga or meditation.
Meditation can be done practically anywhere and as often as needed. It allows the body and mind to relax and causes the stress to melt away. There is no one specific way to meditate. Some people prefer to focus on a specific sound while meditating, while others simply focus on breathing in and out. Meditation is also the least expensive stress relief option available and has no potentially negative side effects the way some medications do.
Yoga is another diverse and interesting way to deal with stress. There are lots of different types of yoga, ranging from traditional to alternatives such as floating or goat yoga. One such alternative is Water Dog Floating Yoga in Corpus Christi. You can either choose to do a lesson on the floating deck of the house boat, or, for the more adventurous, there is the option of lessons on Stand Up Paddleboards, or SUPs. Water Dog caters to clients of all ages and experience levels, so anyone can sign up for a class. Yoga not only can help with fitness goals, but also gives the mind and body something peaceful to focus on and keeps the mind off stressful things.
Journaling can also help with stress. Writing down feelings and emotions can help release them, as opposed to keeping them bottled up in your head. If you’re trying to make a difficult decision, sometimes it helps to write down the issue on paper and hash out all the pros and cons of each option. There are all different sorts of journaling, so you don’t even necessarily have to like writing to be able to use this method of stress relief. If you don’t necessarily want to write about your feelings, you could always sketch or make a mood chart. Journaling is also cheaper and more easily accessible to those with disabilities.
You can also set up a home spa if you don’t want to leave the house. A warm bubble bath with some calming music can help release tension, which causes the body and mind to relax. Even if you don’t have a bathtub, you can do a foot soak in a sink or large bowl and generously apply lotion afterward to help relieve some tension.
Exercising is another good way to relieve stress. First, it releases endorphins, which naturally cause a person to feel better and be happier. Also, it allows an outlet for pent-up energy, aggression and stress. Worried about an up-coming test or stressed about finding time to balance work and school in the upcoming semester? Go for a jog and focus on the rhythmic pounding of your feet on the ground and force yourself to breathe at a steady pace. If all goes well, you’ll be too focused on that to worry about what is stressing you out.
You can also find a game that you enjoy playing to help relieve stress. Whether it be solitaire with yourself, chess with a classmate or co-worker, or Monopoly with a whole group of friends, games provide a fun, enjoyable outlet that can help draw your mind away from whatever stressors are in your life. You don’t even have to win to enjoy the relaxing benefits of playing a game, though it is a plus when you do.
