How do you guys deal with tension and stress

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I really wish I liked to exercise, I absolutely detest it currently. I'd rather curl up and sleep if I have a free hour during the day.
But perhaps I'll try again this semester
Exercise doesn't have to mean going to a gym or going for a run, which is what I feel most people mean when they "don't like" exercising.
Personally I go through phases where running is either the most wonderful thing ever, or a most detestable activity. When it's appealing, I do that. The rest of the time, I find other active things to do. In college I was on a really long "I hate running" kick, so I signed up for karate classes instead. There is something about getting to kick and hit things that does wonders in terms of stress relief. I bike. I hike. Heck, I'll knock out push-ups until my arms go weak if the weather is terrible and I don't want to venture outside.

If I'm in need of an activity that is more likely to help me wind down at the end of a day, I like to knit, quilt, or do meal prep for the next day (I find chopping vegetables to be really soothing).
Meditation is also nice, but if my brain is going at a million miles an hour, it can be hard to make myself sit still for even a few minutes to meditate.

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So lets call them the 3P's then. Patron, Pilates, and P.....:rofl:

(Not sure I need to but disclaimer: there are some explicit lyrics, not out here to cause trouble.)






But lift weights, hoop, listen to music loudly, and mentally list stuff I'm thankful for always works for me. Also the general mantra everything always works itself out keeps things peachy
 
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Consensual sex, sleep, friends, anything that takes your mind away from whatever it is that is causing you stress, even if only for a short amount of time. For me, the time spent away from the obligations you speak of is just as important as actually doing those things, because it allows you to "recharge your batteries," and approach those things with a fresh perspective and energy.
It's almost creepy that you felt you had to specify "consensual"...
 
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Shrooms Pizza
 
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Ummmm

I think that's illegal :p
But it's a pizza.
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To all those who suggested exercise..I enrolled in a great PE this semester. It's stretching/breathing exercises and some core strengthening. Definitely makes me feel better physically and mentally.
Thanks :D
 
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To all those who suggested exercise..I enrolled in a great PE this semester. It's stretching/breathing exercises and some core strengthening. Definitely makes me feel better physically and mentally.
Thanks :D
Glad to hear it!
 
I take a moment to breathe, and if I'm very stressed, I meditate to center myself. Sometimes all that is needed is a deep breath and a tall glass of water, and then time to recount all of the things I am grateful for. Other times I work out, or write. Sometimes, I just need to have a meaningful conversation and feel a connection with someone.

When I'm calmer, I can assess the source of my stress and reverse-engineer the problem. A lot of my stress comes from feeling overwhelmed, and I solve that by breaking it down to action steps. Sometimes, I'll even plan and schedule every single thing on a whiteboard. The point is, I am very good at following instructions and a plan. As long as I've designed something that achieves my end result, I can trust in myself. I can trust that I'll handle the situation. There's a lot less willpower involved in following your own written instructions than when you're planning things constantly off the fly.

Also, this may be worth reading. It is entitled, "Sixteen Small Steps to Happiness," so it doesn't quite answer the question, but I think it it's very effective for long-term stress reduction.

Sixteen Small Steps to Happiness
"1. push yourself to get up before the rest of the world - start with 7am, then 6am, then 5:30am. go to the nearest hill with a big coat and a scarf and watch the sun rise.
2. push yourself to fall asleep earlier - start with 11pm, then 10pm, then 9pm. wake up in the morning feeling re-energized and comfortable.
3. erase processed food from your diet. start with no lollies, chips, biscuits, then erase pasta, rice, cereal, then bread. use the rule that if a child couldn’t identify what was in it, you don’t eat it.
4. get into the habit of cooking yourself a beautiful breakfast. fry tomatoes and mushrooms in real butter and garlic, fry an egg, slice up a fresh avocado and squirt way too much lemon on it. sit and eat it and do nothing else.
5. stretch. start by reaching for the sky as hard as you can, then trying to touch your toes. roll your head. stretch your fingers. stretch everything.
6. buy a 1L water bottle. start with pushing yourself to drink the whole thing in a day, then try drinking it twice.
7. buy a beautiful diary and a beautiful black pen. write down everything you do, including dinner dates, appointments, assignments, coffees, what you need to do that day. no detail is too small.
8. strip your bed of your sheets and empty your underwear draw into the washing machine. put a massive scoop of scented fabric softener in there and wash. make your bed in full.
9. organise your room. fold all your clothes (and bag what you don’t want), clean your mirror, your laptop, vacuum the floor. light a beautiful candle.
10. have a luxurious shower with your favourite music playing. wash your hair, scrub your body, brush your teeth. lather your whole body in moisturiser, get familiar with the part between your toes, your inner thighs, the back of your neck.
11. push yourself to go for a walk. take your headphones, go to the beach and walk. smile at strangers walking the other way and be surprised how many smile back. bring your dog and observe the dog’s behaviour. realise you can learn from your dog.
12. message old friends with personal jokes. reminisce. suggest a catch up soon, even if you don’t follow through. push yourself to follow through.
14. think long and hard about what interests you. crime? sex? boarding school? long-forgotten romance etiquette? find a book about it and read it. there is a book about literally everything.
15. become the person you would ideally fall in love with. let cars merge into your lane when driving. pay double for parking tickets and leave a second one in the machine. stick your tongue out at babies. compliment people on their cute clothes. challenge yourself to not ridicule anyone for a whole day. then two. then a week. walk with a straight posture. look people in the eye. ask people about their story. talk to acquaintances so they become friends.
16. lie in the sunshine. daydream about the life you would lead if failure wasn’t a thing. open your eyes. take small steps to make it happen for you."

Source: http://emmaelsworthy.com/post/50463252599/sixteen-small-steps-to-happiness
 
When I get too stressed I cry it out and I feel significantly better afterwards. Either that or I go for a walk or do marathons on Netflix.
 
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Thanks for all the tips! I'll definitely check out that app.
I really wish I liked to exercise, I absolutely detest it currently. I'd rather curl up and sleep if I have a free hour during the day.
But perhaps I'll try again this semester

You should. Being fit week bring down your RHR. Might help though I don't know enough to comment if it actually will.
 
When I get too stressed I cry it out and I feel significantly better afterwards. Either that or I go for a walk or do marathons on Netflix.

That's exactly what I did this cycle lol
 
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I deal with tension/stress by eating Talenti Belgium Chocolate icecream and Mangos :)
 
I've had some success with the Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety. Trying to include a link but idk if it works.
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They give you advice on mindfulness, meditation, dealing with long term stress, not overburdening yourself, etc. A lot of the suggestions on here are in it. The one thing I have to say is that you need to stick with it for a while, not just a couple of days. I have been trying to do 1 chapter a week, but sometimes its more like 1 chapter a month.
It's better for me than drinking lots of wine and eating ice cream, and it helps me cope in the moment.
 
honestly I almost envy you guys stressing about academics. I've got no worries there but am always anxious about life in general (loneliness, etc.) but to answer the question, meditation/prayer, exercise, and good conversations can usually keep me going.
 
If you're a girl, get a bf. If you're a guy, get a gf. If you don't want one, use your hand. Pretty straightforward. That's the Wolf of Wall Street way of doing it, anyway. Worked for him.
 
Hello, fine SDNers!:)

I'm wondering how you manage stress in your life. I know everyone's different, but I'd love to hear how other people deal with it.

I'm pretty bad. I get so tense, I practically throw my neck and back out on a regular basis. I also have a constantly elevated heart rate.
It's really frustrating because I can feel myself tightening up and mentally freaking out. I just don't know how to combat it.
It's all school/scheduling/grade related. I'd say I'm great at time management and getting things done, but somehow that makes me even more stressed and neurotic.:arghh:

Any tips on how to relax and manage stress?
I have the same problems. I saw a psychiatrist and started taking beta blockers.
 
If you're a girl, get a bf. If you're a guy, get a gf. If you don't want one, use your hand. Pretty straightforward. That's the Wolf of Wall Street way of doing it, anyway. Worked for him.
Well then. That's pretty heteronormative. You know LGBT+ people exist, right?
 
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I do something monotonous where I don't have to think much... like wash dishes by hand.
 
Well then. That's pretty heteronormative. You know LGBT+ people exist, right?

We can generalize this to "Get a SO ASAP". Not that I agree with it, since being single rocks.

Exercise really helps.

Definitely agree with this. Even helps to prepare and run for a marathon (or shorter versions of it).
 
Bourbon, Sex, Sleep, J-Cole, Sex, Brunch.

Cuz I'm a New Yorker now apparently...

 
Cardiovascular exercise. It doesn't have to be running, but it has to be something that substantially increases my heart rate (ex: tennis, soccer, volleyball). It's the most effective way for me.

When I was going through a difficult time in college, exercising several times a week was the only thing that improved my anxiety.
 
Well then. That's pretty heteronormative. You know LGBT+ people exist, right?

Never said bf or gf couldn't be of either gender. I think it's pretty heteronormative to think that "boyfriend" has to refer to a guy ;)
 
I am at the moment writing a lengthy application to medical school. When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip.
 
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