Send help: How to relieve stress (for real)

Send help: How to relieve stress (for real)

You thought you were too blessed to be stressed, but the current workload hits differently? We got you! Relieving stress is important in order to be more producitve. Identifying your stress type is a crucial step in effectively managing stress. Here are some common stress types and their characteristics.

What kind of stress are you experiencing?

  1. Financial stress: Is my bank account covered? How high is my student loan? Will I earn enough money with my degree? This is financial stress! It occurs when you have difficulty meeting your financial obligations or when you worry about how you are going to finance your education.

  1. Relationship stress: we don't just mean romantic relationships. Stress can occur in any social setting: with roommates, within your family, among friends or in your situational relationship with other students. Problems in interpersonal relationships lead to feelings of stress. In addition, many first-year students worry about whether or not they'll be able to make friends.

  1. Health-related stress: Physical illnesses or mental illnesses are what lie behind health-related stress. When it comes to your body, listen to the signals it sends you. Stress hormones can trigger many kinds of diseases.

  1. Academic stress: This is caused by the pressure to get good grades, stick to deadlines and meet the demands of your studies. Sometimes your parents are breathing down your neck, sometimes it's the competition between you and your fellow students.

Let it go!

How to relief stress

What's next? Once you have identified your stress type, there are several techniques that can help you release stress easily. Here are some tips:

  1. Inhale, Exhale: Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation or yoga on a regular basis. These techniques can help you calm your mind and reduce physical tension. As little as 5 minutes can make a huge difference. If you are super pressed on time or are in a public setting, do the following: breathe in deeply (so that you feel it in your belly) for 7 seconds, hold the breath for 7 seconds and the breathe out for another 7 seconds. Repeat this at least three times. This immediately calms down your nervous system a bit.

  1. Hate it or love it but physical activity can improve your mood. Exercise can help to reduce stress hormones in the body and you might feel less stressed. This can also just mean regular walks. If you pair this with a stress-reducing form of activity like yoga even better. But if it's that HIIT training that makes you forget all your troubles, make sure to do that instead. Also, check out which workout classes and sports your university offers. This way, you might even make some new friends.

  1. Speaking of friends: you are not alone! Connect with others and share your thoughts. Talking to friends or family members can help you to feel supported and reduce feelings of isolation. So meet that friend for a quick tea or call your mom for a chat.

  1. This one is always important: Set realistic goals and prioritize tasks. This can help you feel more in control of your situation and reduce feelings of overload. When you feel overwhelmed by everything you have to do, apply our breathing technique first, then write down a to-do list, with priorities. You'll see that everything will look a little less overwhelming.

  1. Your hobbies are important!! Take breaks, go outside, read a book, do nothing! Your battery will recharge and you'll reduce feelings of burnout. Whatever it is that makes you happy - do it even when you feel you don't have time for it.

This is, of course, not a one-size-fits-all solution. All people are different and respond differently to these anti-stress methods. Stress minimisation should nevertheless be regularly built into your everyday life (stress prevention would of course be even better, but that's a different story). Also important: stress can be dangerous. Please don't underestimate your body's warning signals and consult an expert if your symptoms increase.

Make the most of breaks

The semester and holiday breaks can be great opportunities to relax and re-energize. First, disconnect from uni: don't check your uni mailbox, mute all messengers and get your study materials out of your sight. Plan some time off - maybe go back home or take a last-minute trip.