Three Small Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Stress, By Shane Smith

Everyone experiences stress. As a college student, you have a lot of things to juggle, whether they be work, school, pets, children, or all of the above! Combat that stress with a few simple lifestyle changes.


  
Be positive.

When you find yourself being negative about a situation or telling yourself you are going to fail the upcoming test, change up your perspective! Negative thinking can set you up for failure, making it your only expectation. Positive thinking will not only re-route your way of thinking about situations, it will make you feel less stressed about the situation.

Have a few minutes of fun.

While at times we feel we have ZERO time for fun, taking a few moments out of your day to relax is beneficial. Spending five minutes of your time to read a funny article or to throw the ball around with your dog can alleviate some of that unwanted stress while not eating up your entire afternoon. Take a few minutes out of the day for you! 

Work it out.

Sweat the stress away. Take a walk or go for a run when you begin to feel overwhelmed with your class load. By keeping a regular fitness routine, you will not only feel better physically, you may see some positive improvements mentally as well.