Unplug

Often times, our stress is related to work. I know for myself, I work for Girl Scouts, which I love, but I'm always on my email refreshing to make sure I don't miss anything, even if that means sacrificing time with friends. I could be in the same room as them, and it won't matter. I'm still glued to my screen.

Taking an hour, two hours, maybe one night a week to turn off your computer or putting down the phone can greatly reduce stress. I now tell myself that after 6pm, I am not reachable via email and I will not respond until morning. (Unless it's about event planning. Those cannot wait, unfortunately.) I try to ignore calls and texts for an hour a night and just unwind. I found a new renewed love for reading and i try to read a chapter a night for myself.

There isn't one way to unplug. It's different for everyone. Trying to find one that works for you is always worth the try!

Take a walk

Taking a walk or exercising can help get you back on track and feeling refreshed. I personally like to do yoga, as it relaxes me and helps me stretch out my back and knees. It gives me something to focus on rather than what is causing my stress. As a senior in college, not only am i stressed about school, but graduation, grad school, getting employed, the list goes on. Getting out of your dorm or your house can help you greatly, by helping clear your head and to give you a break from the mundane.

Take some time with friends

Spending time with other people to vent and to relax is one of the best things i ever did for myself last spring. I was taking a course that would make or break my college career. We had to write our capstone project, and without a passing grade on the hardest course i ever took, which was a 400 level course mind you, I wouldn't be walking in May. During my editing of my final draft, i had a 8 hour breakdown because the stress and the pressure was too high. My college has an event every so often called the moonlight breakfast, where they feed us pancakes till midnight. I sent in my final draft and went to the event, still mid breakdown.

Being able to see other people and to vent about my anxieties was the best thing I could have done for myself. I removed myself from the cause and got to spend a night with people who cared about my well being. Without them, i would have gone insane from the stress. (For those who are wondering I got an 89 in the class, so win win for me.)

Burn out can be scary and it can make things seem terrible. But finding what works well for you can make your life so much easier in the long run.