To effectively manage stress, it is best to devote attention to all aspects of life, including social, physical, emotional, career, intellectual, environmental, and spiritual. Here are some tips for handling stress:

Social

• Play. Have fun. Confide in friends.
• Allow other people to make life a bit easier. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
• Develop or join support groups, either formal or informal.

Physical

• Breathe deeply and slowly.
• Treat your body with respect and compassion.
• Exercise in a way that is fun and healthy.

Emotional

• Be gentle with yourself.
• Treat yourself with the same patience with which you treat good friends.
• Seek professional help as a sign of self-care.

Career

• Set goals, both short-term and long-term.
• Be reasonable about expectations.
• Follow your own path.

Intellectual

• Organize your thoughts, ideas, and time.
• View new subjects and courses as opportunities rather than as requirements.
• Seek wisdom in addition to knowledge.

Environmental

• Change to a new environment if the old one becomes unmanageable.
• Be assertive about your desires. There is no guarantee of success, but being assertive can increase the odds.
• Practice adapting to new situations.

Spiritual

• Have personal quiet time.
• Look for meaning in what may be troubling you. Figuring out what is wrong makes it easier to find the best way to address the problems.
• Trust that your problems will pass in time.

Other tips to help you relax

• Step outside. Soak in the outdoors to help clear your mind. Nature can act as a diversion and give you a break from a hectic schedule.
• Accentuate the positive. It’s fine to acknowledge doubts, but always keep an image of success in your head. This focus can help bring out your best when needed most.
• Eat well. You need energy to excel. Aim for balance, variety, and moderation in the foods you choose.
• Sleep—ideally around eight hours a night. Realistically, however, four to five hours is far better than pulling an all-nighter.

Special Thanks to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Health Services.