With midterms approaching, and more and more of us are realizing that college does, in fact, require studying, it's easy to fall into a bottomless pit of stress. Although some stress can be beneficial, motivating us to get stuff done, prolonged stress contribute to long-term problems for our health and well being.
What happens when we're stressed? We tense our muscles up due to our body's response to potential danger, and our bodies go into overdrive. We eat too much, we don't sleep enough, and we're not well equipped to deal with our daily challenges, therefore making us more irritable.
One specific stress symptom college students tend to exhibit is stress eating (the freshman fifteen is real, people!).
Why do we eat when we're stressed? It turns out that fatty, sugary foods invoke feelings of comfort which seem to counteract stress. In people who have higher cortisol levels, stress eating may be more common. Higher caloric intake combined with less physical activity and less sleep augments weight gain as well.
So, how can we productively deal with stress? The goal is to invest your energy into something productive. Personally, I tend to stress clean! It makes me feel like I've actually done something, and the energy I have from the adrenaline in my veins is put to use, so I can calm down and actually focus when studying.
Others, way more athletic than I am, claim that running calms them down and helps them focus.
And sometimes, all we need is a hug from our friends to make everything better.
No matter what you are stressed out about, make sure you take some time this week to take care of yourselves this midterms season! Don't worry, Thanksgiving will be here before we know it!
