Zane's Stress Management Entry

Stress is something that everyone has to deal with. It is something that I can personally identify with. Since arriving at college, I feel that it has been somewhat difficult to properly adjust. At times, it is easy to feel stressed out or overwhelmed. It is in these moments of helplessness that we tend to give up and fall back in to our unhealthy habits (in my case, procrastination). For today’s Blog, I will briefly review some strategies that will help you manage your stress more effectively.

The first strategy is called the 10 minute vacation. One of the most difficult parts about completing assignments is staying focused and on track. If you are finishing an important paper, or studying for an exam, it may be difficult to keep clear, positive mindset. For this strategy, simply study or do your work for a designated amount of time, and then take a 10 minute break. Use the 10 minutes for something you find particularly rewarding: watch tv, grab a snack or just take a moment to breathe and collect yourself. Having rewarded yourself, you can continue with your work until the next vacation.

I tried this strategy when studying for Anthropology. As mentioned before, I always found it challenging to stay on task when studying or completing assignments; especially if the deadline is near. The strategy was helpful because it essentially allows you to chunk the task . You can set up your own personal study schedule, or outline for your paper/assignment. It is also helpful for students who don’t have a lot of free time to relax. The only “problem” I had with the strategy was self-regulation. At times it was difficult to return work after the 10 minutes

Another strategy I tried was the stress diagram. Essentially you create a pie chart and consider all of the stressful factors in your life and the severity of them. The following is my stress diagram:

If you are honest with yourself, this strategy can be very beneficial. If you know what stresses you out, you can customize and develop strategies to effectively deal with them.