Next time little stressors in life become too much to handle, try doing something good for someone else. My freshman year of college was a pretty hectic time in my life, not taking into account adjusting to college life and taking care of school work. Needless to say I was stress out. After a while, an opportunity came up to go to a local middle school to hang out with the kids after school. So I went without really thinking too much of it. I like kids and I wanted to get off campus. We helped a few kids with homework then played basketball before their parents came to pick them up for the day. Two of the boys took a liking to hanging out with me and got excited when I would go back. I certainly didn't making any kind of lasting impression upon their lives, but I learned a lot about them and they got to have a fun afternoon. Even after the first day, I felt a little better in general.
I think I can attribute this to thinking more about the kids I was with than about myself. In my previous post, I mentioned the ideas that there is more out there than whatever's stressing you out and things will improve. I say I experienced this my freshman year. I was so wrapped up in what was going wrong in my life and causing me stress, I forgot about possible solutions in everything else that was going on around me.
So the stress reliever I want to stress in post post is to think about other people and take a break from getting lost in your own thoughts. Of course it feels good to help others out, but doing so partially for the selfish reason of trying to shake your own stress can be okay, too. Keep in mind the amount of people that benefit from selflessness... it can include you!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
More than one right answer
Stress can result from hard decisions, let downs or mistakes, which are probably hard to shake from your thoughts. Things like this are inevitable and happen to everyone. For instance, I just missed a meeting with a professor because I mistakenly thought I scheduled it amongst the rest of my week's meetings I scheduled for Friday, not Thursday; one of my friends was just informed he did not get the one internship he really had his eye on; and my brother recently struggled with deciding upon one of two schools at which to attend high school. These are a few of the vast amount of stressors that occur everyday. I'm sure you can think of a dozen of your own right off the top of you head.
Think about how many hard decisions, let downs or mistakes you've faced and how often. Now think of that amount as a number of accomplishments. Your whole life you've ultimately successfully conquered all these stressors that probably drove you crazy at the time you dealt with them. Even when you feel like you don't have options or made the wrong decision, it's never been the end of the world. This is when it is time to think through your options. Rarely if ever is there only one right answer. Look at whatever situation you're facing from as many angles as possible. Recognize that the future might bring changes and more options. It is certainly difficult to step back from a stressful situation and think completely rationally, but sometimes this is the best stress reliever. It might remind you that you've been in this position before, and everything has always improved or worked itself out. Learn from the stressful moments of your past.
One way to think rationally in the face of stress is to make lists. "Lists relieve stress and focus the mind. 'Lists,' sociologist Scott Schaffer told The Oregoniannewspaper, 'really get to the heart of what it is we need to do to get through another day on this planet.' "
Or prepare for these obnoxious stressors by recognizing your situation and practicing solutions. In this case practice stepping outside of your stress and remember there is always more than one right answer.
Think about how many hard decisions, let downs or mistakes you've faced and how often. Now think of that amount as a number of accomplishments. Your whole life you've ultimately successfully conquered all these stressors that probably drove you crazy at the time you dealt with them. Even when you feel like you don't have options or made the wrong decision, it's never been the end of the world. This is when it is time to think through your options. Rarely if ever is there only one right answer. Look at whatever situation you're facing from as many angles as possible. Recognize that the future might bring changes and more options. It is certainly difficult to step back from a stressful situation and think completely rationally, but sometimes this is the best stress reliever. It might remind you that you've been in this position before, and everything has always improved or worked itself out. Learn from the stressful moments of your past.
One way to think rationally in the face of stress is to make lists. "Lists relieve stress and focus the mind. 'Lists,' sociologist Scott Schaffer told The Oregoniannewspaper, 'really get to the heart of what it is we need to do to get through another day on this planet.' "
Or prepare for these obnoxious stressors by recognizing your situation and practicing solutions. In this case practice stepping outside of your stress and remember there is always more than one right answer.
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