It’s Wednesday, and you just sat through a three-hour lecture on Generally Accepted Accounting Principals all afternoon. All you want to do is relax in your dorm and binge a new Netflix series. However, there just isn’t the time!
You have a philosophy paper due tomorrow that you haven’t even started, and an Economics test Friday to study for. That’s just the course work. You also have a student government meeting at 7, your girlfriend keeps telling you, “We need to talk,” and your buddies keep lighting up your cell phone, bugging you to come out and partake in the Wasted Wednesday activities.
How are you going to find the time to eat, let alone pass your test on Friday?
These types of situations are stressful for any college student. It becomes even more stressful when you add the stress of having Crohn’s Disease, along with COVID-19, to the list of things to worry about.
It is vital for students with Crohn’s to remember that while stress does not cause Crohn’s Disease, it can make your symptoms worse or trigger a flare-up. Stress can cause your normal digestive process to either speed up or slow down, creating problems.
While it is not always possible to altogether remove stress from your life. You can learn ways to reduce stress and manage it. Here are a few methods I used to relieve stress in my life during college.
Exercise
Walk your butt over to the rec center and do some physical activity. Hop on the treadmill, lift some weights, shoot some hoops, or challenge a friend to a game of racquetball. It doesn’t matter what you do. Just get the blood flowing and heart rate up. When you exercise, you burn cortisol and norepinephrine, the chemicals that cause stress. At the same time, releasing endorphins, the chemical that makes you feel happy. Exercise is a win-win because you will be relieving stress while also improving your overall health.
Get Away
Some times you need to just step away from everything and clear your head. Put in your headphones and go for a walk around campus. If you have a car, turn on a podcast and take a drive. Stop thinking about all the things you need to get done and just get lost in whatever you’re listening to. When you come back with a clear mind and a new perspective, devise a plan to get everything done and ace that test.
Take A Nap
Sleep is important for both your physical and emotional health. A lack of sleep may leave you feeling unfocused and grumpy. Both your body and your mind repair themselves while you sleep, so you must get enough rest. You could be surprised at how much your outlook changes after getting a little shut-eye. And who knows, maybe your lack of sleep is one reason you are so stressed out in the first place. There is no shame in calling it quits for a while, turning the lights out, and taking a nap. When you wake up, you will be refreshed and ready to take on the rest of your duties as a busy college student.
Write
The stress-reducing benefits of writing have been well documented. Putting pen to paper forces you to actively engage with your thoughts. Get your creative juices flowing and brainstorm solutions to the problems creating your stress. In a lot of ways, it’s like free therapy with yourself.
Do you have any other suggestions on how to relieve stress? Share them in the comments section below. We would all love to hear from you!