Graphic Jax Jackson
Managing Editor Lila Shields breaks down the top five ways to manage stress.
Whether it is the holiday season, the midst of midterms or a generic Wednesday, self-care remains a necessity to having a healthy and balanced life. While the term “self-care” can look different for people, everyone should strive to have a holistic routine in which they consider their needs.
#5: Getting down the fundamentals
As annoying as it is to hear, “Did you get eight hours of sleep last night?” when you complain about a poor test grade, those basics are the root of success. When humans are overtired and not obtaining the needed amount of energy, performing to the best of our abilities becomes impossible. For me, it took becoming vegetarian to realize that my previous diet was not working. By doing this, I became more mindful of my body’s hunger cues and stopped relying on foods that did not give me the energy I needed. While I know that my diet is not applicable or appropriate for everyone, I feel fulfilled that I found that happy medium for myself. An abundance of anything can become poison; however, there are ways to navigate the basics like sleep, diet and exercise. Find a routine that works for you, stick with it and assure it becomes a habit that energizes you.
#4: Express yourself
Expression is a way to process emotions in a creative way, allowing for growth. Traditional therapy—talking through life’s ups and downs—is beneficial, but there is no cookie-cutter option for how to approach this outlet. Some people find belonging and stress relief through releasing pent-up emotions in sports and video games. Others may sit down to sew. The cool thing is that there are a million different ways to take time for yourself in a productive fashion.
#3: Find a community
Through sports, extracurricular activities, clubs and having healthy relationships with others, it is easy to feel a sense of belonging. By finding these groups that make you feel part of something bigger than yourself, it allows you to have a comfortable community to rely on. Through similarities and differences, you open your eyes to new possibilities or interests to explore. As we age, we grow and go through different communities which can lead us to end up submerged into different groups. At times it is inevitable to feel out of place where you fit in. Finding belonging can be nurtured through trying new things that interest you. This can include joining a new club that seems appealing or even finding an activity to join that is administered by a teacher you like.
#2: Establishing values
By asserting personal beliefs for yourself and also the people you choose to surround yourself with, you have the ability to stay true to yourself. Selecting groups that complement you helps to avoid conflict and nurture your own traits. Simply striving to be a better person opens up doors to recognizing areas to improve in. Whether you enjoy reading self-help books or practicing a religion, a concept to follow allows you to have a path to go down.
#1: Balancing the present and future
At times, it is easier to choose instant gratifications like impulsive purchases, taking risks and rebelling against authority. While some of these encounters are a part of teenage years, it is important to realize that there will be consequences to actions. Adolescence is a turning point in life as we get accustomed to where we fit into the world. Whether our future path is college, work or a gap year, the future is inevitably coming at us full force. Choices must be made: will you choose to stay home on a Friday night to finish up that college application due at 11:59, or join your friends on a night out? In my own experience, it feels at times as if my future is holding me back from the time I have left with my friends in high school. Yet as I figure out my future plans, I realize that these decisions are what will provide me with opportunities down the road. It is important to balance the present and future in order to not miss out or live with regret.