Weekend De-stress

After the stress of midterm exams, many students find it difficult to motivate themselves for the final push to the end of semester. Use your weekends to give you the stress relief you need to recharge. With the Thanksgiving long weekend coming up in November, you have the perfect opportunity to relax and regroup.

Homemade hydrotherapy

Stress can prevent you from sleeping well and weaken your immune system. Use techniques from the spa to invigorate your body. Increasing your body temperature stimulates the production of white blood cells. Sweating helps the body to rid itself of toxins and gives you a great complexion. Cold water also has its benefits; increasing circulation and invigorating body and mind. Run yourself a warm bath. Put on some soothing music and relax for at least ten minutes. Add stress-relieving aromatherapy oils like lavender. Stay as long as you like, but make sure to keep the water hot. Jump out of the bath and into a cold shower.

Get a move on

When you have some time off school, the last thing you feel like doing is exercise. Exercise gets your blood flowing, cleanses the body of toxins and releases mood-lifting endorphins. If the thought of the gym is overwhelming, try to make exercise fun. Play a game outside with friends, go for a hike in a natural setting or take a walk in the park. Do Tai Chi or Yoga for a more relaxing workout that benefits both body and mind.

You are what you eat

Stress eating often has us reaching for chocolate bars and junk food. Busy students may not have the time or money to invest in healthy meals. Take time out to eat foods that help relieve the stress you are feeling. Some foods can actively help to fight stress. These include protein which helps to produce dopamine. Dopamine is converted to adrenaline during times of stress and is a welcome reserve of strength when we need it most. Turkey is a good source of protein, as are fish, chicken and pulses. Complex carbohydrates (like whole grains and brown rice), fruits and vegetables and foods rich in vitamin B (leafy green vegetables and seafood) give us the fuels we need to perform optimally.

Catch up on sleep

Ensure that you get all the sleep you need. A comfortable bed with a mattress and pillow that offer support are essential for a good night’s sleep. Warm milk, turkey and avocados contain bromine which has a sedative effect on the body and helps us get to sleep.

The best stress reliever is spending time with friends and family. Catching up and laughing with your loved ones will have you relaxed and rejuvenated in no time at all.