Stress Management!

[Mr-Niggle]

As a final year uni student stress is a fact of every day life. To enable me to function day to day without giving in to the anxiety I can feel creeping over me I've had to find anxiety management techniques that work for me.

Firstly, I try to keep on top of things. By this I don't mean working myself to the bone. Rather, I try to stay organised. I know when my work has to be in, I plan my time to make sure I'm not stressing over everything at once.

Secondly I try to notice the subtle signs that my body gives me to tell me I'm stressed. This might be a tight feeling in my chest, a lack of appetite, or as I've found sometimes, comfort eating, which serves to make me feel better and distract me from whatever is making me feel stressed.

Lastly, I try to do regular exercise. I've found that this really helps to release the pent up energy my body wastes on feeling anxious. Twenty minutes on a treadmill a few times a week is all it takes for me. I also find that I feel generally happier afterwards, probably due to the endorphins that exercise causes.

My tip to those with anxiety, find something that works for you. There's no one size fits all situation. Anxiety is natural, you just need to find a way to help you manage it.

[Yankee_Doodle]

Great advice! I'm starting an exercise class next week and hope that it will help my stress management.

[josh555]

Really good blog. I have just started a new job, which I am really nervous about, and the thought of it makes me really stressed and makes my stomach churn. However, using some of these tips helps me to relax a bit more about the whole thing, and hopefully when I start I won't be as anxious as I was initially

[greengrape in reply to josh555]

Hope the new job is going well Josh. Starting a new job can be a stressful time for most people but your employer obviously thought you were the right man for the job. Give yourself time to settle in and your confidence will grow. Remember all your colleagues will have felt the same when they first started.

[greengrape]

Couldn't agree more. Exercise is a great stress buster for me. Swimming, a brisk walk and even gardening all really help. Worry is a big problem for me and if it's something I can't get out of my head a tip that I've been trying recently is to imagine putting the worry inside a balloon and then watching it float away.

I've found it does help.

[Yankee_Doodle]

Ever since I started exercising, I've realised that I'm much less stressed. Never thought I'd say it but I'm really enjoying it as well!