This blog is bought to you by our partners at Livin. For more info head on over to their website. #itaintweaktospeak
The best way to deal with stress is to learn and change the way you think about it. 💯
It might be hard to think positively about stress when we're always told about the negative effects it can have on our health and well-being, but it is important to be aware that not ALL stress is bad.
If you understand and believe that stress can be your friend, not always your enemy, it may not have a negative effect on you at all.
If you let stress take over it might feel like your whole world is caving in, and you start stressing about being stressed #spiraling.
BUT, the right amount of stress has benefits and can give you the motivation to be productive and get stuff done… like studying for that upcoming exam, rehearsing for that upcoming presentation, or even training for that upcoming footy or netball match. 💪
Without any stress whatsoever, the motivation to act, to get off your butt and do things can be very limited. The important thing is to recognise when stress has moved into the not-very-motivating or unhelpful zone.
Think about stress like a balloon. 🎈 You can blow up a balloon so that it's got the perfect amount of pressure to float around and be a cute party decoration. If there's not enough air in the balloon it won't float around or be usable at all. If there's too much air in the balloon it'll run the risk of bursting easily under the pressure. The point is, we need a certain amount of stress to function at our best. Keep reading to find out how to balance your stress and make stress your friend. ⚖️🤝
When stress might be approaching not-very-motivating or helpful:
• Headaches, tension in the body you can’t get rid of, chest pain, fatigue, sleep problems.
• Anxiety, restlessness, lack of motivation or focus, feeling overwhelmed, irritability or anger, sadness or depression.
• Overeating or undereating, angry outbursts, social withdrawal, exercising less.
When it might be helpful to speak with someone like a psychologist or guidance counsellor at your school, or to reach out to the gang at headspace.
1. If warning signs and symptoms persist for longer than 2 weeks.
2. If how you are feeling about anything is causing you significant distress – “why can’t I shake this?” “I want these feelings to stop!”
3. If the way you are feeling is preventing you from doing things you can usually do, the things you need to do or the things you usually enjoy doing.
Study tips to help you keep stress working as your friend.
1. Check out some of LIVIN’s tips and tricks here to help you manage your stress levels.
2. Regular breaks: No one can study for hours and hours straight and be effective. Break up your time into twenty-thirty-minute chunks so your brain doesn’t turn to mush.
3. Speak Up: The best way to really remember and learn is to talk about what you’re learning out loud, without using any notes – Speak Up. Additionally, try and teach others what you have learnt – if you can teach it, it's likely you understand it very well.
4. Avoid distractions: Checking Instagram or TikTok every 5 minutes is a recipe for poor study. Put the phone away during your twenty-thirty-minute study time, and reward yourself in a break!
5. Sleeping is good: If you get a good night’s sleep before your exam, you will retain more of what you studied the day before than if you stay up late cramming and stressing about needing to learn more and more and more.
Remember:
NOT ALL STRESS IS BAD FOR YOU.
STRESS CAN BE YOUR FRIEND.
STRESS CAN BE MOTIVATING.
And most importantly, after you smash your exams, Schoolies is right around the corner 🥳🙌
Haven’t booked your Schoolies yet? Rooms are selling fast so click here to lock in your spot today. 
Thanks so much to our partners LIVIN, make sure you check out their website HERE.