Stress Management | Academic Skills Center

Tips for handling stress

• Add balance to life; don’t overdo studies or play.
• Know and accept what kind of person you are: strengths and weaknesses.
• Get a thorough physical exam.
• Take “time-outs,” especially during study.
• Expand your support network, reinforce friendships.
• Spend time with people who are not stressed.
• Discuss problems with friends, family, dean or counselor.
• Exercise! It relieves bodily tension and increases oxygen flow to your brain!
• Walk loosely and walk more.
• Learn and practice relaxation skills.
• Focus on immediate issues.
• Study each subject regularly for moderate periods of time.

• Credit yourself when things go right!
• Assume your challenges are all solvable
• Concentrate on your breathing – see below for deep breathing exercises
• Assume your troubles are temporary rather than permanent.
• Get a massage!

Attitude Is Everything

Attitude is important—it affects:

1. How successful you are in achieving your academic and personal goals
2. How you feel, mentally and physically
3. How you look, what you say and what you do.

7 Easy Ways to Develop a Positive Attitude:

1. Be confident.
2. Be positive.
3. Be punctual.
4. Be patient: some things just take time to do.
5. Believe in yourself: you are unique in this world, and so are your talents.
6. Set goals for yourself: then WORK hard to achieve them.
7. Get fun out of life: don’t take yourself too seriously.

Adapted by Rachel Fleming ’00 from the pamphlet “Your Attitude and You” by Channing L. Bete Co., Inc.