In college, stress goes hand in hand with everyday life. It’s hard not to be stressed when classes, tests and assignments pile up. You have to find a way to get everything done while potentially balancing a job, family obligations, social life and the list goes on and on.

According to the American Institute of Stress, 45 percent of college students said that they have experienced “more than average” stress. How can we fight this? Here are some ways to relieve stress in a constructive manner.

1. Eating healthily is a great way to guard against stress because it increases your body’s ability to handle stressful situations. It’s also good to exercise. Stress can often create a lot of anxious energy and exercising helps you get all of your extra energy and tension out.
2. Freshman Alyssa Winter likes to exercise to relieve her stress. “Exercising for me just clears my mind of everything going on in my everyday life. I could be struggling with school, work, or home life and getting active takes that all away,” Winter said.
3. Sometimes all you need to relieve stress constructively is an outlet. This could be anything: a journal, a close friend, a counselor: anyone you can trust with your feelings. Sometimes journaling or talking to someone can bring you away from your anxious feelings because oftentimes stress is so much bigger in your head. When you see all of your problems or worries written down, or when someone breaks it down for you and offers you advice, support, and solutions, it’s easier to take a step back and calm down.
4. Freshman Alex Salisbury said that her go-to method for relieving stress is venting to a close friend. “Having an outlet for my stress is extremely helpful. Sometimes all I need to do is vent and I’ll feel better instantly,” Salisbury said. 
5. Another method is meditation. Meditation helps you clear your head and calm down, which can really come in handy when the stress gets too high. You don’t have to go to a class to meditate, you can simply use a YouTube video. Getting outside and enjoying the great outdoors also has similar effects to meditation in terms of calming down and clearing your head. 
6. Sophomore Mikayla Herrera uses this method to center herself during times of stress. “Personally my favorite way of relieving stress during my tough weeks is getting outside. I prefer either riding around campus on my skateboard or hitting the slopes during the winter. Fresh air is so calming and I love how the wind hits my face during these activities. There’s a whole wave of relief when I do it,” Hererra said. 

If you find yourself extremely stressed, just try exercising in the Hamilton Rec Center and eating healthy at the Caf. Don’t forget to provide yourself with a steady outlet to process your anxiety such as a journal or a friend, and remember that using meditation videos on YouTubeto clear your head is always an option. Or, you could center yourself by going outside to the Colorado National Monument and letting the sunshine and fresh air relax you. 

If your stress gets to the point where it’s unbearable and it’s taking a huge toll on your life, don’t hesitate to set up a counseling appointment at the Student Wellness Center to get the help you need!