Earning a degree isn’t an easy thing to accomplish. It involves a lot of hours spent studying, mostly late into the night, and sacrifices have to be made if you want to achieve the best grade. A lot of students often say they find it hard to keep up with the workload and that their stress levels are constantly rising, especially when the exam period comes around. However, that doesn’t have to be the case. Here are our best tips on how to stay stress-free while earning a degree.
Always Remember to Breathe
When people start to feel stressed, their body and muscles often become tenser and it can be hard to relax. One of the ways to combat this is to focus on your breathing. Taking in deep breaths slowly will help to calm your mind and slow your heart rate, which can be very beneficial when stress takes hold. Something that can often help further is incorporating yoga into your breathing exercises. Gentle stretches can help to release any tension in the muscles and even help you to sleep better.
Manage Your Time
One of the reasons why people become stressed is because they aren’t managing their workload properly and this is mostly due to not managing their time well enough. When you’re trying to earn a degree, you need to be able to keep to a structured timetable or time will run away from you. A great way to do this is to write a timetable at the beginning of the week. Block out your time into segments, ensuring you are covering all the basics of your classes. You should do the important things in the morning when you have a fresh mind and can power through them. You will find it much easier to stick to deadlines this way as well, so you won’t be fretting last minute at completing a paper.
Take A Break
When you are staring at a laptop screen or focusing on reading a book, it is important to take breaks every so often. It can be as simple as flicking through social media, watching an episode of your favourite TV show or taking a walk outside. Fresh air can do wonders for the mind and helps to lower stress levels. These breaks should be factored into your time table to prevent you from burning out.
Avoid Distractions
People often think they will miss out on something big if they aren’t on social media, but all it does is distract them from the important tasks at hand. Procrastination is a very real thing and it affects everyone in different ways. Some people will do anything to avoid working, even when they know they should be. Instead, limit all distractions, which includes your phone. You can download apps that block you from using your phone for set periods of time or simply store it away out of sight. Limiting the distractions and stepping away from social media will allow you to focus completely and reduce stress.
Talk to Friends
A lot of people will hold their feelings in, which doesn’t always work out for the best. If the pressure of classes and assignments is getting to you, why now talk to a friend or family member? You will be surprised at how good it feels to vent to someone who probably understands how you’re feeling more than you realise. Sometimes stress can come from being alone too much and the socialising can do wonders for your mood. A lot of people also study with other people or join a group to help them stay focused on their studies.
Exercise
We know you’ve probably heard it before, but exercise is one of the best ways to help tackle mental health issues. When your blood is pumping and endorphins are released into the body, you will find that your concentration is improved, as well as your mood. You don’t even have to join a gym as there are plenty of exercise videos on YouTube where people can help motivate you to get moving. You will be surprised at how much a little bit of exercise will help to reduce your stress levels.
As much as it is important to get good grades, it is also important that you look after yourself. Using these tips, you will soon find you are able to relax and feel more at ease.
