How To Stay Sane During The School Year

Max Camero
Copy Editor

For anyone of any age, school can be a stressor, but by using the P.L.E.A.S.E. acronym, one can manage the hectic college life better.

In order to keep your mental health stable, one needs to keep several things in check: Physical Illness, eating, avoiding drugs, sleep, and exercise.

These skills were created by Marsha M. Linehan, who created a special type of therapy called Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT. The therapy was designed to help people change unhealthy ways of coping with issues that pop up in their lives.

There are many forms of unhealthy coping options, like resorting to taking illegal drugs. Others include things as simple procrastination, or more drastic like self-harming.

Physical illness covers the P and L (for L in physical) in the P.L.E.A.S.E. acronym. A body and mind can not run at one hundred percent, and seeing a doctor is the best way to find out if your body is healthy.

Lewis and Clark Community College has a Family Health Clinic that is open to both students and the general public. They accept walk-ins and appointments Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Eating is the second in the PLEASE acronym, but more specifically balanced eating. Balanced eating entails eating in moderation. A brain can’t function without fuel, and food is that fuel.

A good study tip would be to eat a snack while studying, as it will keep the brain focused on its tasks instead of hunger. Some of the top foods that are good for your brain are blueberries, salmon, and avocados.

The “A” in the acronym is Avoiding illegal drugs as a means to cope with stress. Studies have shown that stress and course load are often the triggers for this habit among students.

Balanced sleep is necessary in order to function well, which brings us to the “S” in our acronym. While the amount of sleep needed is different for everyone, no one should push themselves to sleep less for any reason. There are plenty of apps for smartphones that aid in people’s sleeping habits, such as Sleep Cycle.

Which brings us to our last letter, “E,” standng for Exercise. It is important for a sound mind and body. According to the National Library of Medicine, the many health benefits of exercise include things like: improved sleep, increased interest in sex, stress relief, improvement in mood, reduced tiredness that can increase mental alertness, weight reduction, reduced cholesterol and improved cardiovascular fitness.

By following the PLEASE acronym, the school year will be a lot less stressful, as well as creating a healthy body and mind for one to live with and practice doing for the rest of their lives.

“When working with students while they are stressed or feel ‘stuck,’ I ask what one small step they could take that will begin to fix the problem or situation? I also ask, if they cannot accomplish this step by themselves, whom can they ask to help them get started?” L&C Counselor, Renee Bauer said.

To put these skills into practice, and to take that one small step, consider visiting the sites mentioned in the article. To help regulate your sleep, go to http://bit.ly/1mJfaGW, to learn more about healthy eating visit http://1.usa.gov/1c1Y6Ho, and to learn about drug addiction and prevention, visit http://1.usa.gov/1fIwvyk.