More Exercise, Less Stress!

As a full-time student, member of a Registered Student Organization (RSO) and part-time worker, trying to make time for a social life can be difficult. It is often a challenge to balance everything. I am positive I am not the only one in this position. As busy students, it is important for us to know different ways to relieve our stress and make time for ourselves. College has taught me how to manage my time wisely, especially when the days go by so quickly. In addition, as public relations majors, we all know that this busy schedule will not go away after college. It is important to know how to handle stress and anxiety, given that it is an everyday issue for most students and professionals.

PR is known to be a very fast-paced and intense work environment, often requiring you to think on your feet. Getting used to this early on in your college years is essential to building your professional character. It is extremely important to get involved on campus to gain experience and help build your resume. However, it is just as important to look out for your health as it is to look out for your grades. Countless studies show the impact of exercise on stress relief. Not only is it physically good for you, but it also increases your brain activity. For example, Brianne Garritano, the lead Event Planner at Marquette Avenue Events, came into our chapter meeting to explain what she does on a regular day. As you can imagine, her schedule can get chaotic and stressful. She explained that she makes sure to workout every morning to clear her mind before the crazy workday takes over. Additionally, according to the article, “Physical Activity Reduces Stress”, written by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, studies show that exercise improves alertness and concentration and enhance overall cognitive function. Clearly, exercise helps relieve stress, which is something that we all have in our lives as busy college students.

One type of workout that I find extremely beneficial is yoga. After doing yoga, I feel clear-headed, calm and stress/anxiety-free. Yoga consists of meditation and breathing techniques along with poses that require concentration and focus, which is a great way to get your mind off of the endless things that you have due by the end of the week. Yoga and meditation allow you to focus your energy on one thing, which is harder than you would think. For instance, Sarah Elson wrote an article titled, “4 Yoga Principles that can be Applied to PR,” on December 8, 2015 on PR Daily. She mentioned how important it is to focus all of your attention on your current task, tackling each task one at a time. Yoga helps relieve stress and anxiety in many different ways, and the practice can even help you in your professional world one day. If you have not tried a yoga class before, now is the time! 

​Lastly , I suggest everyone to take at least an hour of their day to just focus on themselves and their health, and I can guarantee that you will feel a tremendous weight lifted off your shoulders. Exercise is not only good for your physical health, but it also is essential for your mental health as well. 

Written by Megan Rubinger