High Park Nutrition Wants To Help You Handle Stress!
March 29th, 2012 by Leah Henrickson | Co-Editor
blogUT is teaming up with High Park Nutrition for a second time to give away another gift basket full of wellness goodies! This time, it’s all about banishing pesky exam stress.
To win the basket pictured above, all you have to do is comment on this post, answering the following question:
What tips do you have for other students about managing stress?
Comments will be accepted up until 11:59pm on Thursday, April 5th and we’ll be announcing the winning commenter’s name on Friday, April 6th. Please note that only those with a utoronto email will be entered into the draw.
Good luck to everyone, and we look forward to seeing what you come up with!
Special thanks to the wonderful people at High Park Nutrition for their generous donation.
March 30th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Time management… plan ahead and avoid stress. Also stay focused when under the gun.
March 31st, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Don’t deny yourself sleep – Sleep, recuperate, and then tackle your to do list with your full ability. Eat well, eat lots, and drink plenty of water (even though you’ll still be chugging caffeine like brain juice). Study smart: you don’t necessarily need to know everything you learned this in class. Some teachers are kind enough to specify what will be covered on finals. Otherwise, take time to figure out what will be covered so you won’t be overwhelmed in material.
March 31st, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Prioritize! Figure out what’s important and make sure to do what you do with those things first. Sometimes you do have to pull an allnighter – in those situations, make sure you take naps. Power naps are the next best thing to sleeping.
Most importantly, something that can help you relax during those moments of high stress. If it means watching a tv show episode or reading a chapter of a book or going for a walk outside, DO IT. It can make those long hours of studying a lot more bearable.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Firstly, deactivate your Facebook account! Secondly, when you feel procrastination hit, do something productive instead that will spark your concentration — go to the gym, read a book, nap, or sit down and have a cup of tea (decaf, if you wish). Then head back to work. Just make sure you don’t zone out surfing the internet! I find it helps my concentration from plummeting.
April 1st, 2012 at 1:25 am
Keep balanced by recognizing when you could use a break and taking one!
Get outside, go to the gym, walk over to a new study spot mid-day, or try a new activity or restaurant with friends during a study break. Keeping refreshed is key to feeling like you are working toward something and ultimately keeping on track!
April 1st, 2012 at 11:52 am
Sleep well. Eat well. Go to the gym every other day (if you’re lazy, take classes so that you’ll have to go ; spinning, squash, fencing, cardio). Take Omega 3 pills. Eat more fiber.
But most importantly, start to work early.
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:23 am
Realize that stressing accomplishes nothing.
April 3rd, 2012 at 8:35 pm
It’s easy to say stuff like “start early” or “spread it out” so you do not feel stress from cramming it all in. Though, ya know, stress is often here because the end is near. Thus, when the prevention type of advices do not work, try talking about how stressful you are. Find a friend, find your neighbour, call the Distress Line, tell them what’s causing your stress, what would you like to do instead of exams. After you complain about it, you’ll feel better and starting to see that it is more important to read over your notes.
Chocolate also helps quite a bit.
April 5th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
I have been through a lot of stress and anxiety concerning school in the last year. While in that feeling its difficult to accomplish school work. I’ve tried many things. The best tips I have for stressed students are separating the area where you sleep and where you do work. Studying on your bed doesn’t work. It’s for sleeping only. Finding an area where you feel at ease studying helps. I favour the Junior Common Room. Big couches and oak tables fill the room. There’s a piano so students come to practice there. It’s a lovely environment. Plus you can take a nap on the couches if you get tired studying.
I found taking one of those drop in classes at the athletic centre was really beneficial. My favourite was zumba on mondays. Huge turn out of people. Nothing distresses you like dancing to Top 40 and not feeling silly for having two left feet. Take some friends along and make it a weekly thing to look forward to.
Lastly, treat yourself to something after handing in a big assignment. For me, that’s visiting Carole’s Cheesecake company and treating myself to a slice of delicious cheesecake. Sometimes I have a nap in the sun. Even if I have another assignment to work on, I found it very important to reward myself and de-stress before starting the next assignment.
April 5th, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Meant to post with my @utoronto address. My apologies.
April 5th, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Avoid all-nighters, eat a lot of leafy greens, don’t drink too much coffee, take long showers, reward yourself for hard work by watching an episode of your favourite TV show, study outside as much as possible, go to an animal shelter and pet some animals!
April 5th, 2012 at 11:05 pm
GO. TO. THE. GYM!
April 5th, 2012 at 11:21 pm
prioritize, get enough sleep, eat healthy, exercise, and most importantly, smile
April 5th, 2012 at 11:53 pm
When times get busy, I usually try to isolate myself from the world to maximize my studying. However, I realised this year that making time to spend with your friends is really important throughout this stressful period. By adding some fun in your life, you’re actually able to focus better later on when you tackle your work. Short bursts of destressing are always great! One thing I like to do is to go for 30 minute coffee breaks with a friend – this way, I would be able to get myself caffeinated while having little fun at the same time!