Ways to Float Your Stress Away

Take Care of Your Body

• Get 8-9 hours of sleep on a regular schedule
• Maintain a properly balanced diet
• Avoid / reduce alcohol & caffeine
• Aerobic exercise 20-30 min, at least 3 x week
• Massage, sauna, or relaxing bath
• Get a medical checkup
  
  

Take Care with your Communication

• Reflect before expressing anger
• But don’t build up resentment
• Be direct instead of using jokes or sarcasm
• Use “I” statements instead of e.g., “You always…”
• Be assertive without being aggressive or passive
• Listen — do not interrupt
  
  

Take Care with your Time

• Set goals & prioritize (life priorities, not just academics/work)
• Never all work and no play — be sure to re-create
• Overcome procrastination
• Delegate responsibility
• Avoid polyphasic activity
• Do not overextend yourself — pace yourself
• Be realistic about deadlines and what you can accomplish
  
  

Allow Others to Take Care of You

• You help others; why not let others help you?
• Spend time with kind and respectful friends & significant others
• Don’t bottle up tension
• Talk to a supportive friend, clergy, or counselor
• Prayer/spiritual support
  
  

Take Care with Systematic Relaxation

• Sign up for a Relaxation Class @ Rec Sports
• Deep diaphragmatic breathing
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Autogenic Training
• Guided Imagery
• Meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi
  
  

Take Care with Cognitive Restructuring

• Are your perceptions of stressors distorted?
• Watch your automatic thoughts for shoulds, overgeneralizations, catastrophizing
• Let go of perfectionism
• Reexamine your excessive guilt, self-blame
• Confront your fear of failure OR fear of success
• Recognize and accept personal limits
• Your self worth isn’t based on your achievements
• Counselors can teach cognitive restructuring
  
  

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