Chill Out

Chill

 

by Victoria Tattinger (& Maya Nauphal)

 

We’ve all experienced stress and so I am sure that you can all relate to this topic. We live surrounded by stress in our everyday lives. Whether it be an embarrassing situation that makes your palms sweat or your stomach tightening up for no apparent reason, here are a few tips on how to deal with stress:

1. SLEEP. Sleeping is a great way to rest your metabolism. Sleep deprivation affects your mind as well as your body. If you cannot cope with stress then the best is to sleep on it, as sleep regulates your nervous system. Force your mind to shut down. This may seem hard at times but counting sheep does work!

2. MOVE. Exercise is a great way to take your mind of things. Going for a run before an exam will not only make sure you get a good night sleep, but will also help you body secrete serotonin, a ‘feel-good’ hormone. 

 

3. TALK IT OUT. As stress is a topic we can all relate too, I’m sure you can easily find someone to share your worries with. If you can’t manage things by yourself, ask someone for advice or support. Although women are more known to chat their worries away - guys should give it a try too!

4. COOKIES AND MILK. Drown your sorrows in a midnight snack! This is by far my favourite one, as well as a personal tip I’d like to share with you! When you find it impossible to sleep, because your mind just wont shut down, a glass of warm milk truly helps!

5. Strive for EXCELLENCE not PERFECTION. No one is perfect so don’t waste your time trying to be. No one is meant to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders like Atlas did (Greek mythology). If you want to go far in life listen to others and learn from your mistakes. Stress is often related to fear of failure or disappointment. You are still young and you lack experience. So guess what, you are going to fail a couple of times in your life. ‘Carpe Diem’: don’t think of tomorrow as a better today, instead, try to improve life on a day to day basis.

6. LAUGH. A good laugh can be a great stress reliever: it releases endorphins and other healthy hormones, and can even provide some sort of a physical workout if you really get going.

 

7. SMILE☺ Apparently turning that frown upside down works for relieving stress. And for all you sceptics out there, it’s not the smile that counts but the reason behind it. Find someone who makes you smile, and stick to that person when you are on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

8. KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON”. You are living in England, so you might as well adopt the English moto (inherited from ‘Britain’s battle’). When you find yourself in a stressful situation, the worst reaction you could have is to panic. Just take a deep breath and the moment will pass.