Overwhelmed? Five tips for Coping with Stress

It's placement time at CCPR. This means everyone in the program (almost 80 of us), are applying for the same internships and going on countless interviews trying to score their first choice agency or organization. On top of this, we also have our normal classes and a client project. It's intense, but no one knows how to cope with stress better than us.

Here are a few things I've learned over four years at university and half of a post-graduate program to help me cope with stress. 

1. START. Things always seem more daunting before you've started them. Throughout university there were many a paper I was so worried about and had no idea how to start until I sat down and began typing. Once I've got a good start on something I always start to feel better. Many times, things which I thought would be very difficult, ended up being much easier than I imagined. 

2. EXERCISE. When I'm frustrated and stressed, nothing beats taking it out on the gym. Exercising releases endorphins in your brain which trigger a positive feeling, similar to morphine. I can not give you one time where I left the gym feeling worse than when I first got there. Working out also helps me feel like I'm doing something for myself and not just spending every waking second working. 

3. BREAKS. As much as we would love to keep trucking away for hours on end, it isn't possible. Brains need downtime to process the insane amount of information we process everyday. If you want to remember or understand anything you are reading, listening to or doing, your brain needs breaks every 45 minutes, according to The Huffington Post. 

4. EYE ON THE PRIZE. When I get overwhelmed, it always helps to remind myself of the end goal and why I'm working so hard. For me this might mean reading an inspirational book or visiting the website of a place I would like to work someday. It is easy to lose sight of your goals when you have a lot on your plate so taking the time to remind yourself will most likely reignite your motivation. 

5. SMILE. Ever hear of "Fake it till you make it"? It is one of my favourite mottos and it comes in handy very often. So even if you feel not so great and like your brain is about to explode, forcing yourself to smile will trick yourself into thinking your happy (even if you actually aren't) and has shown to relieve stress. 

For everyone feeling stressed this time of year, especially my fellow classmates, hang in there, there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel. 

- JS