How to Relax and Alleviate Stress

It can be hard to prioritize your mental health, especially when your teachers are assigning piles of homework in each of your classes. With tests and quizzes in your face every week, it can be challenging to take a deep breath and step back from schoolwork every once in a while. With the added loneliness of not being able to see your friends at school because of the pandemic, you may think, “Will it ever get better?” The answer to that is, yes! There are mental health resources all over the internet available to you at the click of a button. Today, we’ll be discussing a couple of our favorite apps, websites, and other resources that you can use to reduce anxiety and lower stress levels.

1. Meditation & Yoga

Meditating is a great way to disconnect from your worries and take a breather. There are lots of different apps that you can use daily. One app we recommend is Balance. There are tons of different mindfulness exercises, each of them tackling a different aspect of your stress. They can be as short or as long as you’d like, making it perfect for a quick destresser or a full-blown relaxation session! Yoga is also a great way to relax. There are tons of yoga apps on the app store that are super helpful and fun to do.

2. Talking to someone

Sometimes, one of the things we need most is a listening ear. Venting your stress and talking about your problems is a great way to relieve some stress. Talk to a parent, close friend, or even a relative. If you aren’t able to talk to someone you know about it, that’s okay! There are tons of resources available for you to utilize. We recommend 7 Cups, an online resource where you can anonymously talk to someone about your problems. It’s a totally judgment-free zone for you to release all your worries. Best of all, it’s completely free!

3. Take a moment for some self-care

Everybody needs a moment to themselves every now and then. It’s always a good idea to relax, turn on your favorite TV show, light a scented candle, and put on a face mask. If that’s not your cup of tea, don’t worry! Just do something that you genuinely enjoy, whether it’s talking to your friends, baking some cupcakes, or gaming online. If you need some ideas, here’s a list to help you: 100 Things to Do When Bored

These are just a couple of ways that can help you destress and relieve anxiety. Throughout the school year, we can guarantee that there will be some seriously intense days where schoolwork can pile up. Although it will be tough, we know you all are capable of rising to the challenge and doing the best you can! The most important thing is to relax and take some time to yourself, rather than overworking yourself until you’re completely exhausted.

By: Doris Hong