For those damsels in distress, there is a surefire solution to your problems. De-stress! Now, before you go out and pummel your teachers to get rid of the source of your stress, think twice. Ignoring or getting rid of your stress will only provide short term satisfaction and will not prove to be beneficial in the long run. Instead, one should focus on accepting stress as a fact of life. No one lives a stress free life. Some just learn to handle their own stress better than others. If there was an easy way to get rid of stress, the authors of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to *insert anything*” would have made a how-to manual already. I’ve checked; they have not written such a book. Disappointed that no one could relate to an idiot’s stress, I embarked on my perilous journey to find my inner peace. My mom would not allow me to shave my head, so the option of being a monk was ruled out. So as my high school year drew on, I realized that I had to find a solution fast. I've tried multiple ways of "de-stressing"; meditating, yoga, reading, sports, chatting with friends, etc, all in varying degrees of success. However, these are all personal ways of relieving stress and they will vary with each and every person. Below, I have outlined four universal ways of "de-stressing".
1. Take a deep breath. This is the most basic way of alleviating your stress. It may sound cliche, but it definitely works. Sit still for a moment and let all of your worries fester. Feeling frustrated? Now, take a huge heaving breath and don't stop until your lungs are absolutely full. As a result, your brain receives a stimulating dose of oxygen and you automatically feel lighter and more refreshed.
2. Study in increments. It's 10:00 PM and you have a huge Chemistry test tomorrow. My first instinct would be to panic and start cramming for three hours straight. However, this study method has become my downfall. I find it to be infinitely more helpful if I study in one hour time blocks. It does not help to study until 3:00 PM and ruin your sleep pattern. If you still do not feel adequately prepared for your test, set your alarm clock 45 minutes earlier and study in the morning.
3. Be omniscient. Don't write your "stress-life" in first person. Try giving yourself a little more power. Instead of saying, "I need to write my paper, email my teacher, feed my cat, walk my dog, etc...", try viewing it more objectively. If I had to give an example, it would be something along the lines of, "And so, yet another day of the mortal's life begins. Jessica had a few things on her agenda...". When you think of your problems as someone else's, they instantly begin to diminish and seem more boring. This is our egotistical human nature at its best, so put it to good use.
4. Avoid stress. The obstacles will always be there. On my way to school I always encounter a huge oak tree, but I don't just stand there thinking, "Darn that three. It's in my way. Now I can't go to school." Likewise, I don't go out of my way to plant oak trees in my path to school. Know yourself better. Don't take that new club project under your wing if you know you are going to be cramming for time.
There is no way to get rid of the sources of stress. However, you can reduce the impact stress has on your life. This is your life. Don't take shortcuts or beat around the bush. Confront your stress. Get familiar with it. Maybe even become frenemies. Then use your personal knowledge of your stress to de-stress.
So damsels in distress, don't just sit there waiting for your knight in shining armor to fix your own life. Learn to take things into your own hands. And princes on white horses, instead of fighting dragons to save someone else, it's important to take the time to save yourself first. And with this, everyone can live happily ever after...
The End.
