Author: G. Li, Silicon Valley Chapter

With the start of school for many in the U.S., students may be starting to feel stress due to coursework, social life, or extenuating scenarios. Regardless of what is plaguing your mind, we’re here to provide you five simple tips to deal with stress this September. 

1. Exercising: Engaging in physical activity releases endorphins, reducing pain, and also increases dopamine levels in the brain, improving general well-being and bringing you some joy. A simple walk could greatly improve your mood and bring a little joy in your life. 
2. Getting Enough Sleep: We know many students get little to no sleep on school days– to this, I say, SLEEP! It is so important for you to get at least 8 hours of sleep every day. Sleep helps regulate neurotransmitters contributing to feelings of happiness, giving you a more positive mood and reducing depression and anxiety. Have you ever been running on 3 hours of sleep and wonder why it takes you three read-throughs to understand the words on your page? Well, this may shock you, but sleep affects cognitive function! So getting more sleep will help you get your work done faster, and you can spend more time taking a break… or sleeping! 
3. Journaling: It’s been a long day. You dozed off because you didn’t get enough sleep last night, and you wake up to your teacher yelling at you to stop sleeping. Your classmates laugh at you as you, embarrassed, wipe off the drool on your face. After class, as you trudge to your usual lunch seat, you trip over someone’s bag, spilling your lunch on someone’s shirt. You apologize profusely, but you just ruined someone’s favorite shirt. So fun. Well it can’t get worse… but it does! You miss the bus back home, so you have to walk that cool mile back home. At least you can collect your thoughts on this walk, you think to yourself. Then you’re met with a sudden downpour and have to run, drenched, in the rain, back to your house, because it’s September and who would think to bring an umbrella? Now, how to let off the steam from this horrible day? No silly, not write about it in a Megaphone article! You’ll spill your heart in your beloved journal. Journaling can help you deal with overwhelming emotions causing you stress or anxiety, and it aids in identifying stressors and negative thoughts/behaviors that may increase your stress levels. 
4. Spending time in nature: Stepping outside your man cave and, as the youngsters say, “touching grass”, can be a great stress reliever. Feeling the breeze on your skin and seeing outdoor plants can take your mind off your stressors and bring you tranquility. 
5. Connecting with a support system: Try talking to supportive friends, family, or pets! This can give you a sense of connection and reduce feelings of isolation. 

Hopefully these tips helped! Keep marching, Stormtrooper.