If you went through Kindergarten up to Senior Year of High School, then you probably experienced minimal stress with school, if any at all. However, once you got to college, there is a high chance that stress came into your life and took over your whole demeanor. I know this because this is what I have experienced.
I never knew what stress was like until the college workload took over my life. I have constant stomachaches and my chest feels as if I am going to explode. Therefore, I took some time for myself to figure out how I was going to manage my personal life, social life, 20 hours at work, and a full-time schedule.
So, here I am 5 years later and set to graduate in December and I think I have figured out a few ways that help to relieve my stress.
If you are unsure how you should start trying to relieve stress or when you should do so, it is best to keep in mind that there is always time in the day for yourself, even if it is only 30 minutes.
To determine what you should do for yourself each day, write all (or some) of your passions down in a list. Even if it includes traveling, just write it all down. Now, the most important part is to figure out which of your passions is going to relieve the most stress and be the most effective for you.
When I began writing my list, I found that my laziness came into play and all I wanted was a hobby that was going to be easy going and the least complicated. This is when I happened upon photography.
Towards the end of my senior year of high school, I got my first iPhone and discovered landscape photography. For about a year, I used my iPhone to take all of my pictures and undeniably, it worked just fine.
As the end of 2014 came, I consistently found myself going to take pictures outside no matter what the weather was like. If it was cold, great, maybe I will get some cool frozen water shots. If it was raining, even better, maybe I could get water droplets on large branches or small plants. I became driven.
Photography is the most life changing and inspiring hobby that I have ever gotten into. During the summer of 2015, I purchased a Canon T5 Rebel and have since expanded my knowledge and interest in photography.
Photography is simple, but what I have come to learn is that not everyone has an eye for it, which is more than okay because photography is a skill.
Capturing photos is incredibly easy, and quite simple if you are willing to put in the time. Photography became fascinating to me because you are capturing only what you want to see and not being forced to look at everything like our eyes do.
Photography is controllable and the person behind the lens (whether it be a smartphone or camera) has all the control in the world. To date, I have captured a little over 32,000 photos and some I am prouder of than others, but it will not make me do it any less.
While I fully suggest trying photography to relieve stress, I also encourage you to pick the easiest thing on your list and just do it! If you enjoy walking, walk around campus or on the boardwalk. If you enjoy drawing, go to the back of your notebook and just draw. Or, if social media does it for you, then do that! There is no rulebook on what will alleviate stress.
While there are numerous amounts of ways to relieve stress, I find the best way to do so is through a passion, hobby, or trying something new. Once you have figured out ways of navigating stress, you will wish you had tried it sooner.
PHOTO TAKEN by Sal Lagrotteria
