stress.

there's this knot on my right shoulder right now that won't go away. it comes right around the same time every quarter. FINALS.

why is it there? because i am on S.T.R.E.S.S. overload.

no matter how hard i've worked for the last nine weeks in the quarter, the last day of class--which can take in the form of a major project, a porfolio, an oral presentation, or a good ol' fashion final examination--can be tremendously stressful.
i'm burnt out, i'm tired, i'm sleep-deprived... after this week, i am so ready to pass out.

"stress" is tension, both bodily or mentally; "state of alarm and adrenaline production, short-term resistance as a coping mechanism, and exhaustion, as well as irritability, muscular tension, inability to concentrate and a variety of physiological reactions such as headache and elevated heart rate" (wikipedia).

school, work, family, social situations, financial problems, and surroundings are all factors of stress. stress can lead to depression, high blood pressure, weight gain, muscle pain, and substance abuse.

someone recently spoke about stress in my organizational behavior class and i personally wanted to blog a little about it. we're all stressful, but we can't let that affect our schooling. (of course, it will a little) we still need a strong finish. so in an effort to try to relax before finals, i am writing a blog entry for thefidmlife. hey, a little perspective sometimes helps. enjoy the picture below. :-)

here's some tips on stress management strategies:

*find a good support system (friends, family, coworkers, advisors)
*excersie (seriously, it SOUNDS stressful, but it works)
*time management
*SLEEP
*relaxation/meditation - take a moment to be by yourself. get out of the city, walk around in a quiet place...talk to an old friend, pray.
*... BREATHE.