Brand New Blog! Stress Busters

My life is been pretty insane with 17 credits of college classes, the crazy summer internship search, tae kwon do class 2x a week, and working out 6x a week. Even with all of this I've managed to stay completely stress free!

Stressing is one of the worst things anyone can do. Not only will it completely scramble your mind and make you go nuts, but it's also terrible for your health, appearance, and mood. It's proven to promote the storage of body fat, and it even speeds up aging! Not to mention no one likes someone who's anxious and cranky.

So don't stress!

Here are a few of the tricks I use to keep myself sane when life gets crazy:

1. Workout! Working out and exercise are the ultimate stress reliever. Put on your Ipod, crank up whatever pumps you up (I'm big on hip-hop when working out), and get in the zone. Hit a punching bag, lift some weights, ride a few miles on the exercise bike...whatever does it for you. Working out is time for yourself, time to regroup and refocus. It's a great tool, USE IT. Not to mention it releases chemicals called endorphins into your bloodstream that make you happy.
2. Sleep! I make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, preferably 9. Our days are crazy enough, let your body get the rest it needs to take on the world tomorrow. Sleep deprivation is so bad for you in so many ways. Sleep sleep sleep!
3. Take an hour from doing work or socializing, and use it for yourself. Put down the blackberry and close your e-mail, facebook, twitter or whatever else connects you to the outside world. Read a book, watch your favorite TV show (I love Spongebob any time of the day, Patrick and Spongebob together are just too ridiculous), play video games...whatever you like to do. Take the time to sit back, relax, and enjoy life without having to worry about anything or anyone else.
4. Organization! Stay on top of your work and plan ahead, there's no reason anyone should ever have to pull an all-nighter. Use the calendar on your phone or computer and record all of the things you have to do in the next 2-3 weeks. It lets you visualize what you have due when, and that way you can plan ahead so that you don't get overwhelmed. If you check it consistently you'll never forget anything that you have to do or leave it to the last minute. Completing homework, projects or whatever ahead of time is so satisfying, especially when others still have to do it!
5. Drink green tea. I love hot, natural green tea. It's delicious, refreshing and soooooo healthy. It really calms me down and lets me relax.