BY REVNA CEBECİ (LAW/II)
revna.cebeci@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
Approximately eleven weeks of the first semester are behind us. Day by day, as winter comes, we’re getting closer to finishing half of this academic year. To be honest, it reminds all of us about the break. However, there’s an unfortunate fact that we’ll soon be face-to-face with: finals. I know that even though we got done with midterms just a couple of days ago, there are still a lot of other things to do: quizzes, presentations, assignments. And the days are shorter, and the weather makes it impossible to stay strong under the burden of these responsibilities.
As a student myself, I really know how all of these factors combine to create a cloud of stress hanging over your mind and body. But I also know that this is the worst thing that can happen. When you feel stressed, you lose your concentration, motivation and happiness. And without them, you’ll have neither success nor peace.
So – RELAX. This is what you need to do, and also what you deserve. Here are some stress-relieving methods for you.
Stay Here, Be Present
If you focus on the past, you can’t see what’s in front of you. And if you focus only on the future, you lose what you have at the moment. So stay here, be present and appreciate what you have. Don’t worry about what you did or didn’t do, or what may happen.
Recall the Good Memories; Be Grateful
Focusing on stress or worries will have an impact on your mood and motivation. Don’t forget that this is only a short period in your life; you’ve had better times. Try to remember them, to recall your previous successes. Be grateful for them. It will reduce negative thoughts in your mind and relieve stress.
LOL!!!! Laugh Out Loud
A good belly laugh doesn’t just lighten your load mentally. It lowers cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, and boosts brain chemicals called endorphins, which help your mood. Lighten up by tuning in to your favorite sitcom or video, reading the comics, or chatting with someone who makes you smile.
If You Must Worry, Worry About One Thing at a Time
I know there are a lot of things to worry about. But you can’t deal with all of them at the same time. Do it one by one. It’ll be easier.
A Few Minutes of Meditation Every Day – Focus on Positivity
Meditation is a very easy and scientific method that helps to reduce anxiety with a few minutes of practice per day. It’s very simple and all about attention. Sitting up straight and closing your eyes in a quiet place, try to focus on a positive mantra, and try to synchronize your breathing with it. Soft sounds, meditation music and candles can be helpful. There are also many tutorials on the internet that might be of help.
Tunes, Sounds, Music
Many studies show that listening to calming music can lower blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety. Choose a playlist that includes nature sounds. Try to let your mind focus on the different melodies, instruments or rhythms.
Know How to Breathe – Deeply
Closing your eyes again, focus on your breathing for a couple of minutes. Try to feel it by placing your hands on your belly. When you breathe deeply, it slows down the heart rate and lowers blood pressure, which is useful for stress reduction.
Open Yourself Up – Share
Your social network is one of your best tools for handling stress. Talk to others – preferably face to face, or at least on the phone. Share what’s going on. You can get a fresh perspective while keeping your connections strong.
1, 2, 3, Action!
Try to move your body. Walk, run, dance. Choose some kind of sport. Do something that will warm up your body; this will help it release serotonin, which deals with stress.
Talk or Write; Somehow, Get Rid of What’s Worrying You
Studies show that talking or writing about your opinions or feelings helps you to feel free from them. If you have close friends, talk to them. Or at least buy a special notebook and write in it: not for anyone to read, but only to get rid of what you have inside.
Do NOT Mention the Negative; Be Optimistic and Speak a Stress-Free Language
Be optimistic. Create your sentences without using negative terms, or mentioning negative situations or opinions. Why? Because you’ll believe in what you say, and in the end you’ll have what you believe in. This is a very effective way to control your brain. So focus on the positive; don’t mention stress.