The school year is right around the corner, and with the feelings of excitement, also comes anxiety and increased levels of academic stress. Knowing how to relieve stress, whether you’re entering high school or college, or you are having a particularly difficult day, is critical to maintaining your mental health. In this article, we will examine the five best ways to relax and calm yourself when the going gets tough.

Physical Activity

The benefits of physical activity cannot be understated. As per a study from the NCBI, engaging in aerobic exercise just two days a week can decrease overall stress and help curb depression.
Exercise can also aid sleep and improve mood, positively impacting both your physical and mental well-being. If you currently lead a sedentary lifestyle, you don’t have to start immediately powerlifting. Even something as small as taking a brisk walk is known to reduce stress levels. Any physical activity is good activity!

A Healthy Diet

Diet, much like physical activity, has a profound impact on one’s well-being and mental health. Studies have shown that frequently eating processed foods and added sugars can lead people to experience higher levels of stress.

If you do not eat enough nutrient-dense foods, you will miss essential vitamins like Vitamin D, which fundamentally alter a person’s mood. Keeping it simple is important – focus on eating leafy greens, as well as vegetables, fruits, beans, and seeds. Taking small steps to improve your diet can yield successful results in lowering stress levels. Eat foods that give you the energy to be the best version of yourself!

Practice Breathing

In need of something to calm you down quickly? Try breathing exercises. It might sound strange, considering we never need to think about our breathing. It’s automatic. But slow, paced, breaths can diminish feelings of anxiety. Try inhaling and then holding your breath for four counts. Then, hold it in for another four. While exhaling, continue counting. Then, repeat. For a more in-depth breath technique, looking into meditation guides helps to focus your breathing and relieve stress.

Slow breathing is a trick that can make a world of a difference, even if you may feel silly about it during your first attempt!

Embrace Your Creativity

Engaging in painting, playing music, writing, painting, or any creative outlet can drastically mitigate stress levels. The beauty of creativity is that it allows you to take a break from whatever it is that is stressing you out. All these activities also take a large amount of concentration and focus – so it is hard to be both at the same time. Being creative calms the mind and tempers anxiety.

Stay in the Moment

This tip is easier said than done. However, focusing on the moment you are in and focusing on your senses, like what you hear, see, and smell is an effective way to ground yourself. Similar to our previous tip, the power of being in the moment is focusing on one thing and diverting your attention away from the stress. Through this, you can take back control of your anxiety, and live fully in the present.

De-Stress & Improve Academic Performance Today!

Figuring out ways to de-stress yourself can be tricky. Here at Test Prep Score, we understand the stress that comes along with applying to colleges, and school in general. Test Prep Score is here to help with any questions you may have regarding test anxiety, higher education, and the process of figuring out your next move toward your education goals.