Managing Stress

Although college is hyped up to be the most fun four years of your life, which it is, the workload is a big stress to get through, especially when finals are coming up. So to try to relieve some of the stress I am experiencing, I tried a couple of techniques I learned about in CLS 105.

The two techniques that I tried are the Stress Diagram, and the Five-minute Escape. The Stress Diagram was not for specifically any classes, but for almost everything, and other stresses I am going through. Since I am a Visual learner, this was pretty helpful. I started out by listing the sources of my stress that I am experiencing, rather than letting it sit in the back of my head. After I wrote them, I made a Visual chart to see how

much each thing is really affecting me. I knew this already, but getting into Whitman is easily my biggest stress. After that came finals and essays, and then my readings after that. Staying fit was a bit off topic from the others, but it is a big concern for me as well. This stress diagram was helpful, but a bit counteractive as well. Listing them initially made me stressed, about how many different stresses I had! But once I accepted it, I was ready to move on and take all of these tasks on.

The past couple of days, I have tried the Five-minute Escape when I am feeling at the peak of my stress. I have never tried any kind of meditation technique, but have always been pretty interested in it. The first time I tried it, it didn't do too much for me, probably because I was with my roommate in my room. During the middle of the day when I was really stressed, I tried it alone in my room. I actually loved it!! I love how I am initially starting with breathing, getting my loose. Once I start rotating my shoulders, I am already starting to feel better. The best part is towards the end when I massage the top of my back. I'm not sure if I am going to use the Stress Diagram technique again, but the Five-minute Escape is something that I can use through college, and even in the future!!