Quote of Today - Stress in College: What everyone should know

Got the flyer in campus clinic, found it very useful. Digest as the following:

THE SIGNS OF STRESS
problems eating or sleeping
increased use of alcohol or other drugs
increased boredom and fatigue; a general sense of "the blahs"
problems making decisions; increased procrastination
becoming anxious and confused over unimportant events
inability to concentrate or pay attention
weakness, dizziness, and shortness of breath; "anxiety attacks"
persistent hostile or angry feelings; increased frustration with minor
annoyances
nightmares
overpowering urges to cry or run and hide
changes in your exercise habits
frequent headaches, backaches, muscle aches, or tightness in the stomach
frequent indigestion, diarrhea, or urination
frequent colds and infections
frequent accidents and minor injuries

TAKING CHARGE - SHORT-TERM WAYS TO HANDLE STRESS
Relax where you are. Sitting in a comfortable position, place your
left hand over your navel and rest your right hand on top of your
left. Breathe deeply through your nose, feeling your hands rise as
your abdomen fills with air. Still inhaling, count to three and feel
your chest expand. Hold your breath momentarily, then release it.
Repeat four times, but stop if you become light-headed.

Take a break. Get some exercise or fresh air, or go somewhere private
and yell or cry.

Ask yourself whether it's worth being upset over the situation. you
can choose to stay calm and ignore it. If the issue is important,
confront it directly, talk it out with a sympathetic friend, or write
it out in a letter that you don't send.

List all the things you think you need to do right away. Then
prioritize the list and only do the top few. The rest can be first
priority tomorrow.

TAKING CHARGE - Beating Procrastination
You can develop similar "hands on" plans to manage other stressors and
help you stay in control.

Buy a calendar. Set up a daily or weekly schedule for yourself,
allowing time for calss, study, leisure, exercise, and other
activities that are important or fun for you. Allow about two hours of
study time for every one hour of class. And remember, your schedule
dosen't have to be perfect - you can change it as needed.

keep a "to do" list. Prioritize your tasks and try to get the most
important done on time. Fit the rest in as possible, making certain
that you take some time to enjoy yourself.

Ask for help. Contact your student or community counseling center for
suport and additional help if you need it.

TAKING CHARGE - Long-term Ways to Handle Stress
Seek your own stress level. Strive for excellence within your limits.
Choose your own goals. Don't live out choices others have made for you.
Become part of a support system. Look out for yourself by letting
friends help you when you are under too much stress and by helping
when they are overloaded.
Thinking positive. Your mind sends signals to your body to prepare for
danger whenever you think about possible negative outcomes, and you
become tense regardless of whether the event happens.
Make decisions. you can learn to live with the consequences or change
your mind. In general, any decision - even consciously deciding to do
nothing - is better than none.
Keep your expectations realistic. Don't expect perfection from
yourself or others. Expect some problems reaching your goals and
realize that you can solve most of them with practice.
Accept what you cannot change. If a problem is beyond your control,
you're better off accepting it for now than spinning your wheels.
Anticipate potentially stressful situations and prepare for them.
Decide whether the situation is one oyou should deal with, postpone,
or avoid. If you decide to deal with the situation, practice what you
will say and do.
Live in the present. Learn from the past and move on.
Manage your time. Prioritizing and planning can keep the demands of
college life from becoming overwhelming.
Take care of your health. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, get
enough sleep, and avoid alcohol and other mood-altering drugs.
Take time for yourself. Make yourself your priority. Find time to
relax - even if only for a few nimutes - every day.