1) Become a rock
Silly heading aside, you need to stand strong and face the problem that is causing you stress head on - do not wait for it to just disappear as often it does not. We tend, especially as young adults, to make small issues appear much larger in our minds - an argument on social media or a bad exam result is really not the end of your life. Try to gain some perspective in times of a supposed crisis - you have lived 18+ years on this harsh planet, so any situation, no matter how great it seems, cannot be harder than this accomplishment!2) Become Existentialist
Now this may be my philosophy degree coming in to play, but what I mean by this is that you should take control of the situation. Once you are in control you can start working on simple solutions, which is a lot easier than it sounds. Many stress-inducing problems can be lessened simply by sending a quick email or by seeking help from a staff member. Although this doesn’t work for all issues, it eliminates all the ones which are taking up your time and thoughts, which often halves the pressure you need to deal with. A good example for students would be when I had missed a deadline (misread the timings) and was panicking about how I would now fail the module or get a very low grade. One quick email later explaining my situation to my modules admin and it had all been sorted. I simply explained my situation to the course administrator in a friendly and professional manner. Take advantage of your University's support service - they will assuredly do everything they can to assist you in any given situation.3) Become an athlete
This is an over exaggeration of course, but the idea still stands: exercise decreases stress. Sometimes issues can seem unsolvable and the mere thought of tackling it can overwhelm you. If your mind seemingly cannot deal with it, then the last defence you have is your body. Whether gyming or playing sports, it is very hard to concentrate on anything but the physical exercise at hand. This is a stress killer for two important reasons: i) it is a great meditation tool as it focuses your mind on a single thing, giving you a break from the issue; ii) it is also a great extra energy tool, and although exercise drains you of physical energy, it gets your blood pumping which in turn gets your mind flowing with new strength and new ways of overcoming issues.
4) Become self-centred!
Possibly one of the worst pieces of advice for many things in life, but like the rest of the titles in this list, this one is undoubtedly a bit 'click-bait-y'. Here what I actually mean is that you need to take some "me" time. Take up a hobby or spoil yourself by seeing a movie or going out for a meal - whatever it takes for you to relax and take your mind off of things. It is important not to let the pressure become the be all and end all in your life, and even in the tensest of situations, this must never take centre stage. Stress is a parasite, and worrying about one thing will only lead you to worry about another. Preventing it from becoming the most prominent thing in your life by focusing on other things is always a good tactic to employ.5) Become Selfless
Hang with friends, join a society, and most importantly speak to others. Whether it be friends, family, or staff, always get someone else's input. Not only is speaking with other people a great way to take your mind off of things, it also allows you to hear some solutions you may never have thought of. For instance, a friend could have gone through a similar situation and have the perfect solution to your problem.
This is a bit of a deviation from point 4, but I am not suggesting developing a split personality or trying to fake anything -this point is more of an either/or with point 4. Some people minimize the presence of stress by spending time by themselves, whilst others spend time socialising. A general rule of thumb is : if stress causes you to introvert, become selfless, and if stress causes you to extrovert, become self-centred.
About the Author: Kevin Pearce is a 2nd year Philosophy student at Durham University, and is hoping to do a Masters degree in Law. As a South African, Kevin enjoys most sports but also has a fondness for imaginative arts and he hopes to publish the book he is writing someday.
