Relieve Nursing School Stress Instantly With These Ideas

Judith Ann Gentry, RN, APRN, MSN
Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing
School of Nursing at Louisiana State University Medical Center
New Orleans, LA

Nursing school produces plenty of stress. Life's little hassles mount up until you say to yourself, "If one more thing goes wrong today, I will explode." When you feel too much pressure and cannot concentrate, try one of these instant stress relievers.

Take six deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Concentrate on breathing, taking the time to notice how your abdomen expands as air fills your lungs.

Visit a peaceful place. Visit any pleasant scene from your past. How? Imagine it! Visualize the scene in detail. Stimulate your senses; smell the salt air, feel the warm sun, hear the waves crashing on shore, and taste the water. In just a few minutes, you will recapture the pleasure of actually being there.

Stretch. Stand up. Raise your arms above your head. Stretch left and hold for a count of five, then stretch right and hold. Repeat several times.

Hug someone. Four hugs every day will do a lot to calm you down. Hug the kids, the dog, your spouse, your significant other, or the mailman (not necessarily in that order).

Change the scene. Walk to your window and watch the birds. Take a walk around the block or the mall. Go outside and breathe deeply.

Find a friend. Choose someone who will not intrude or give advice, someone to listen to your complaints.

Take an exercise break. Take a brisk walk or jog. Climb the stairs instead of riding the elevator. Exercise will improve your frame of mind.

Have a good laugh. Read a joke book or humorous story. Visit a friend with a good sense of humor. See a funny movie. Just laugh; your spirits will rise.

Get a fresh outlook. Stress often comes from taking yourself and school too seriously. Lighten the load by asking yourself, "What is the worst that could happen if I made a mistake or if I handed in my paper late?" The actual consequences usually are not nearly as bad as the ones we imagine.

Finish something. When you feel bogged down by lengthy, complex projects, give yourself a sense of accomplishment. Pick a task you can easily finish in the next 10 minutes. Then do it.

Play. A few minutes spent playing brings renewed energy and concentration to school. Use the break to have fun.

Change your focus. Put your school concerns aside for five minutes and concentrate on your life away from school. Plan how you will spent the evening or weekend.