Let’s face it; school can be extremely stressful. Whether you’re taking medical billing classes or pursuing an Associate’s in Surgical Technology, attending a school that focuses on allied health care can be fun, rewarding, and challenging. But sometimes health care training can be stressful, due to the challenges you face in balancing school with work and your personal life. To make the most of your time and energy while you attend school, you need to learn how to manage your stress.

Here are 5 major stress management tips:

1. Breathe. It sounds like the easiest thing in the world. But often, when you get stressed, your chest gets tight and it may seem hard to breathe. Say you’re worried about an assignment due Monday. Or you’re thinking about the busy day ahead on your commute to school. No matter what’s bothering you, address your anxiety immediately by taking a couple of deep breaths. Take a moment to breathe in, counting to five, and then breathe out. The extra oxygen will help you feel more energized, as it fuels every cell in your body. After breathing in slowly counting to five, five times, you will feel more relaxed and able to focus.
2. Schedule. Creating a schedule can not only increase your productivity, but also help organize your life so you don’t have to worry about turning in late assignments or forgetting important events. First of all, you need to keep track of your class schedule, work schedule, and assignment due dates. Second, set aside specific times to study so that you can keep your personal life separate from work and school. The more you schedule times to study, the more free time you will realize you have to relax, work out, and spend time with family. You can even schedule time to organize your notes and dates for tests, so you can optimize your studying time. Consider writing these things down on a to-do list or a calendar. Establishing a consistent routine can help you ensure that you’re getting everything done.
3. Workout. It’s no secret that exercise is good for you, but you have to commit to it if you really want to improve your stress levels and your overall health. Stress can cause a wide range of physiological reactions, from weight gain to headaches to anxiety, so make an effort to exercise a few times each week to get your body back into balance. If you’re short on time, take a walk between classes or try multitasking by reading a textbook while you bike at the gym. Working out stresses your muscles but relieves your mind, so you can think more clearly. You can also choose to interact with nature and get some vitamin D from the sun, or work out with a friend to spend quality time with them.
4. Sleep. You need a good night’s sleep – and sometimes even naps – in order to be productive during the day. Schedule an appropriate time to go to sleep when you schedule your day. Make sure you get a good eight hours of sleep so that you feel awake to take on the new day. A good night’s sleep is needed to rejuvenate your body. If you have kids, schedule your sleep time around theirs, or take turns with your partner sleeping and watching the kids. Naps are also a good way to supplement any sleep lost.
5. Learn. At American Career College, we have many workshops that cover time management, stress management, and financial aid. Feel free to take these workshops to learn more techniques for living your life with less stress. You can also ask your instructor for study tips, so you are not stressed on how to study for your exams. There are many study tips online, as well, that you can learn to form better note-taking and memorization habits.