How do you handle/deal with stress?
I am currently in graduate school working on my Masters in Computer Science. There are times when i get really stressed/overwhelmed with academic work.
I wanted to gauge, what techniques/methods do people in this community use to manage stress?
8 comments
[ 2.0 ms ] story [ 27.2 ms ] threadThere are a few easy techniques that can help. One of them is always to think long perspective (ideally your whole life) - usually problems fade when you put them in longer perspective, you then realise you will definitely work it out since there is such long life before you. In my case this always motivates me to go extra mile, put extra hour to get the work done.
Thinking long perspective also helps you to organise your life and set your goals. People who set their goals are often successful at realising them, it's astonishing how few actually write their goals down :-) Long perspective gives you feeling of security, that you do have a course set and you know where you are going. There are many ways of achieving goals.
Another one is to imagine you failing and realising consequences. More often than less consequences are always manageable so there is nothing to be stressed about - either way you will find your way through :-)
Good luck with your uni!
I usually take walks, listen to good music.
I try to move.
The shortest path to changing my emotional state, I find, is to change my environment. I remember university being very high-key almost all the time, and seeking out low-key environments was difficult. I hit the trails. I try to limit my exposure to other people, and focus on keeping my own footprint small. It is easier for me to meditate, or just to process my thoughts, when my body is engaged in motion through my surroundings and I am using most of my senses.
If nature is unavailable or unappealing, then use something to change your information diet instead. Music is a good suggestion. I like instrumentals when I can't get outside. Even if I'm only changing my environment virtually, through a video game, play helps.
Whatever I do, it's about trying to change my mental context so that I'm not ruminating on the thing causing the stress. This doesn't mean running away from stressors... only that one needs to choose different stimuli, or lack thereof, from time to time.
I'm nearly two years in, and it's been great for relieving stress. I still suck, but I've learned so much, and it's helped me to appreciate what it's like to be at the beginning of something and to be seemingly terrible at it.
I work out regularly and this really helps for me. Blasting music while lifting heavy works wonders. We usually have a pen and paper roleplaying evening every Sunday, that helps too.
As long as I get one day to rest every week, I'm happy. It does help a lot.