By: David Tomaselli
Any form of physical exercise can be a great way to reduce college stress. By regularly going to a gym, for a run, or competing in a team sport, an outlet is created that gives you the opportunity to focus on an enjoyable activity and literally forget about the day to day events that may contribute to college stress in your life.
By doing physical exercise, the body will inevitably get fitter and stronger. A fit person is less likely to get sick and tired especially during stressful periods, such as at exam time. As a person becomes fitter, his or her self-esteem and self worth will naturally increase. This also reduces the likelyhood of succumbing to college-related stress and in fact will typically create a better chance of coping with stressful situations.
Competitive forms of exercise can also help reduce college stress. Normally, competitive sports will require participants to regularly practice, set goals and work in a team. Competitors are also required to learn how to cope with stressful moments during a game, as well deal with both victory and defeat. Such activities emulate real college situations and therefore will help you to deal with the challenges that college life may bring you.
Some physical exercises which involve repetitive movement, such as running or riding a bike, can have a meditative effect, bringing on change in your the state of consciousness. Like any other form of meditation, the result is usually an increase in mental alertness and feeling calm, yet more alive.
On an “etheric” level, it is believed that physical exercise has a cleansing affect on the energy body. All the dirty energy that contributes to stress is automatically expelled during physical activity. The body will naturally replace this with fresh energy, freely available in the air and the earth.
