Stress and school are terms that often go hand and hand. And if you made it out of school without experiencing any stress, I’d be inclined to think you’re lying! Which is why learning how to manage stress related to school is so important. Let’s go over some of the best ways to manage, and even prevent, student stress!
Exercise
One of the most frequently talked about forms of student stress relief is exercise. This doesn’t have to be anything crazy like heavy weightlifting. All that’s required is about 20 to 30 minutes a day of some sort of activity to get your heart really pumping, and no that does not include test anxiety that makes your heart race! So go for a walk, jog, or run or pop into the gym and try some new machines. Or maybe even start doing yoga, an exercise combined with meditation and mindfulness, it’s a win-win! Which leads me into the next topic, learning relaxation techniques!
Learn Relaxation Techniques
While yoga is a great way to begin diving into mindfulness, deep breathing, and muscle relaxation, there are plenty of other ways to incorporate this stress reducing technique into your life. Watch some YouTube videos and learn how to control your breathing with each inhale and exhale. Understand the stress reducing technique of relaxing each muscle one by one. It’s surprising how much tension we carry in our back, neck, and even facial muscles so learning how to relax each one can not only help with stress reduction and prevention, but it can also help with muscular pain from sitting at your computer studying all day.
Take Care of Your Body
Throughout nursing school you’re going to feel like you’re pushing your body pretty hard. And let’s face it, you are! Getting up early to go to classes and even earlier to go to clinicals. Not getting enough sleep, not eating properly, and probably not drinking enough water. But if you’re expecting your body, and brain, to perform at top function, then doesn’t it make sense that we need to treat it right?
Eat, Sleep, and Drink Water
So remember to get enough sleep, eat right, and drink water! According to Harvard, young adults ages 18 to 25 need about 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night and if you’re pushing your brain to the limit, of course you’re going to need more sleep! And according to the Mayo Clinic, men need about 15.5 cups of water a day while women need about 11.5 cups. So make sure you’re drinking enough water, and avoiding excessive caffeine intake, to fuel your body and brain and decrease those student stress levels!
Multivitamin and Fresh Air
In addition to living a healthy lifestyle, adding in a daily multivitamin can help reduce stress and illness as well as boost your energy. All things you want while in nursing school. After all, no one has time to be sick! And while we’re on the topic, fresh air has also been proven to help in these fields. According to St. Mary’s, “Fresh air not only cleans your lungs, it can also boost your mood, lower your heart rate, increase energy levels and even improve digestion”. So go outside, see the sunshine, and breathe some fresh air! It just might lower those student stress levels.
School and Life Balance
And on top of everything else, be mindful of the balance between school/work and your personal life. Set aside time in your busy schedule to try to clear your mind, relax, and not think about school. Listen to music, enjoy the company of your friends and family, or take a nice long bath! This balance is going to look different for everyone but find something you enjoy and make time for it. Write it in your planner and follow thru with it! Make sure that nursing school and the stress that comes along with it hasn’t consumed your whole life. Remember, you had friends and a life before nursing school, so try to maintain those relationships during school! Yes, it might look a little different, but it’s important to maintain those social connections that aren’t only linked to school and nursing friends.
For more tips on how to juggle the balance between nursing school, work, and life, visit How to be Successful in Nursing School! And if you find yourself getting nervous before your clinicals, visit How to Overcome Pre-Shift Anxiety for Nurses.
How do you manage and prevent student stress? Comment below!
Plus be sure to visit:
- Nursing School Must Haves
- How to Survive Nursing School
- How to Successfully Read and Understand Nursing Textbooks
- What to Expect in Nursing School: Expectations Versus Reality
- How to Take the Best Notes in Nursing School