As busy OU students with long working days, even longer evenings and weekends spent hitting the books, there comes a time for most of us when the stress simply gets a bit too much. Here are eight stress-busting ideas for when everything gets on top of you and you need to break free from the daily grind.
1. Try some yoga. Yoga has become extremely popular in recent years due to its benefits for both the body and the mind. It’s a great stress reliever that you can do from the comfort of your own home. You can even seek some inspiration from YouTube if you need a little extra support, such as 'Yoga with Adriene’s' videos,for instance. Why not try it and see?
2. Meditation. This offers you a great opportunity to drown out the constant noise of your everyday routine. Again, this is another method you can do at home supported by videos or podcasts with guided meditations.
3. Essential oils. Ever find it difficult to get to sleep after a late-night study session? For a healthier alternative to sleeping tablets, why not experiment with essential oils? Lavender, sage and Valerian oils are great to start with and are readily available from your local market or pharmacy.
4. Try out a retreat for your next break. What better way to de-stress than by treating yourself to a well-deserved respite from the daily grind and going on a retreat. Complete immersion in a healthy lifestyle for a short period of time can help you turn over a new leaf and kick start new, stress-busting habits to help you continue with your studies feeling refreshed.
5. Go for a run. Even the November rain can’t take away from the adrenaline rush you get after a good jog. How about testing out a Park Run or convincing a friend to do a Couch to 5K programme with you for some extra support?
6. Play some games. Whether it’s a round on the Switch, good old-fashioned board games or rugby in the park, there’s nothing like a bit of light-hearted fun to take your mind off things for a little while.
7. Lose yourself in music. Whether it be zen, chilled vibes or some loud rock, music is a great and quick stress reliever, particularly when you crank up the volume. It’s something that you can enjoy anywhere.
8. Spend some time with friends and family. Maybe there’s something you’ve always wanted to do with a friend and have never got around to ticking off your must-do list or maybe there’s a family member you haven’t seen in a while and would like to catch up with, taking some time out to spend with loved ones can be a great stress buster.
We hope you feel inspired by some of the ideas on this list!
What do you normally do to beat stress? Let us know your own tips!
Written by: Karen Evans
