It may not be possible to remove the stress from your life; however, managing stress may help you to get things done. Below are some ideas for managing stress.
- Exercise – exercising can be a good way of relieving stress. It helps to get rid of all that pent up energy and can leave you feeling much calmer. You may want to go for a walk or head to the gym as any sort of exercise can be good.
- Socialise – if you are stressed, you may need to take your mind off things for a while. Hanging out with friends is one way of doing that. It may be that similar things that stress you out, also stress your friends out and so talking about your problems with them may be helpful.
- Set realistic goals – becoming over-stressed may make it harder to keep things in perspective. Setting realistic goals (both for the short-term and long-term), creating a priority list and effectively managing your time may be useful ways of managing your stress.
- Perspective – your outlook, attitude, and thoughts influence the way you see things. A healthy dose of optimism may be able to help you make the best out of stressful circumstances.
- Take a deep breath – deep breathing can help to relax the body and hence calm you down. Taking deep breaths before an exam, game, job interview or before going on stage may help to calm you down and focus on what it is that you're about to do.
- Have multiple options to achieve your goals – there is never just one way to achieve something. It is important not to put all your eggs in one basket. Investigate and plan other ways to get to where you want to go, whether it's university, TAFE (technical and further education), getting a particular job or even going on an holiday.
- Speak to someone – if you are finding that you are always stressed out and it is hard to carry on with day to day stuff, it may be helpful to talk to someone about it. Parents, year advisors, teachers, and/or school counsellors are people that may be able to help you cope.