Part I explored what stressors can look like as a student, particularly a medical school student. In Part II, the SLW team will be looking broadly at what you can do to alleviate symptoms of stress and get the most out of your experience as a KMMS student.

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Talking. In some ways, this is one of the easiest things to do to help us destress. Theoretically, we are surrounded by so many people – placement colleagues, university peers, PATs, CATs, friends, family. Daily, we encounter so many people. Of course, we might feel like we can open up to so many of these people, but it can be surprising how restorative it is talking about our experiences with others, especially when we find we are not alone in what we are experiencing. Talking to others can help us feel less alone, put things into perspective, and, at the very least, it can feel good just to vent. KMMS students are always welcome to speak to a member of the SLW team on the ground floor of Pears building.

Down time. It can be difficult finding time out of a busy schedule when there is so much that needs to be done. But actually, sometimes we need to take a step back to help propel us forward. If we don’t get down time, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to recharge our batteries. Ploughing forward, while it can seem like the only option, it can actually become counterproductive and sometimes taking a break is more beneficial for our productivity.

Hobbies. One way of getting down time is by engaging in hobbies. Hobbies can help take us out of our heads and give us the breathing space we need sometimes. Hobbies can look like anything. If you are active, you might like to engage in sports or go for walks. If you prefer your own company, you might like to dabble in arts and crafts, or reading. Hobbies are another way of keeping things in perspective, reminding us there is a whole world outside of our immediate experiences.

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This post is just an introduction to things you can do to help your stress levels. There are plenty of other things that can help you manage emotions, like meditating or therapy. Sometimes revisiting the past can be a helpful way of knowing what does and doesn’t work for us. What has helped you manage your emotions in the past?