The assignments are piling high, money is tight, and the deadlines just keep coming. When things get overwhelming, there are small things you can do to counteract the stress in your life. Below are simple ways to reduce stress, borrowed from the book Everything You Need to Know About Stress Management (Barbee 2012, 14-16):

1. Spend 10 minutes planning and organizing your day.

2. Record specific tasks in a to-do list, ranked in order of priority.

3. Tackle demanding tasks when you are most alert.

• Make the most of your own biological “prime time.” (i.e. are you a night owl, or a morning person?)

4. Conquer procrastination.

• Make a decision now, not later.
• Turn intimidating tasks into bearable ones by separating them into sub-tasks.

5. Learn to say “no.”

• Stay in control by blocking off time for important tasks, and saying no when you know it’s more than you can do.

6. Make use of idle time.

• When you are stuck waiting you can relax with deep breaths, read, get organized, make phone calls, check your to-do list, get focused on the next task, etc.

7. Deal with interruptions.

• Leave part of the day unscheduled to allow time for the unexpected.
• Avoid distractions when you need to focus.

8. Reward yourself.

• Give yourself goals, then reward yourself when you achieve them.

Look further:

Check out Red River College’s Student Success Website for various student supports and additional info on managing stress.

For more information on other resources at RRC Library, stop by the Library desk or contact our reference staff at:

• Notre Dame Campus Library: 204-632-2233 or library@rrc.ca
• Exchange District Campus Library: 204-949-8371 or pscref@rrc.ca