College students are under more stress than ever before. Although some stress can be good, the impact of negative stress can impact your academic performance. We want to give you a few ideas to help you cope.
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1. Simplify meal times
2. Set priorities in life
3. Dance
4. Do it today
5. Use time wisely
6. Look at challenges differently
7. Be aware of the decisions you make
8. Find support from others
9. Memorize a joke
10. Unclutter your life
11. Smile
12. Plant a tree
13. Read a poem
14. Go to a ball game and scream
15. Learn to whistle a tune
16. Say “no” more often
17. Play in the rain
18. Read a story while curled up in bed
19. Go on a picnic
20. Take stock of your achievements
21. Work at being cheerful and optimistic
22. Put on your favorite clothes
23. Feed the birds
24. Strive for excellence NOT perfection
25. Look for the silver lining
26. Schedule play time into every day
27. Get to work or class early
28. Have a support network of people, place, and things
29. Practice preventive maintenance
30. Share a meal with a friend
31. Look up at the stars
32. Prepare for the morning the night before
33. Quit trying to “fix” other people
34. Say hello to a stranger
35. Schedule appointments ahead
36. Recognize the importance of unconditional love
37. Stand up and stretch
38. Stop a bad habit
39. Clean out one closet
40. Put safety first
41. Ask a friend for a hug
42. Repair anything that doesn’t work
43. Believe in yourself
44. Look at a work of art
45. Practice grace under pressure
46. Stop saying negative things to yourself
47. Ask for help with the jobs you dislike
48. Always make copies of important papers
49. Know your limitations, and let others know them too
50. Learn the words to a new song
51. Throw a paper airplane
52. Listen to a symphony
53. Stretch your limits a little each day
54. Watch a movie and eat popcorn
55. Fly a kite
56. Name three things you like about yourself
57. Pet a friendly dog or cat
58. Get enough sleep
59. Remember that stress is an attitude
60. Avoid relying on chemical aids
61. Leave work early (with permission)
62. Buy yourself flowers
63. Watch a ballet
64. Put air freshener in your car
65. Avoid negative people
66. Visualize yourself winning
67. Learn to meet your own needs
68. Keep a journal
69. Don’t rely on your memory-write it down
70. Take a bubble bath
71. Make a duplicate set of keys (for those “I’ve lost my keys” moments)
72. Ask someone to be your “vent-partner”
73. Have goals for yourself
74. Practice a monster smile
75. Cook a meal and eat it by candlelight
76. Exercise everyday
77. Get up 15 minutes earlier
78. Read or watch something funny
79. Break large tasks into bite-size ones
80. Become a better listener
81. Anticipate your needs
82. Say something nice to someone
83. Have a plan “B”
84. Remember you always have options
85. Hum your favorite tune
86. Freely praise other people
87. Do something new today
88. Take a different route to work or school or home
89. Be responsible for your feelings
90. Don’t know all the answers
91. Tell someone to have a good day
92. Meditate or pray
93. Feel the sun on your face
94. Color, draw, or doodle
95. Do a puzzle
96. Make healthy snacks for tomorrow
97. Go to a yoga class
98. Contact an old friend
99. Take a five-minute break
100. Express gratitude
101. Breathe
BONUS: Relax, take each day at a time…you have the rest of your life to live
– Adapted from Tripler Army Medical Center 101 Ways to Cope with Stress