Vermont Cynic

Issue date: 1/22/08 Section: Life and Style

Media Credit: photo illustration by Virginia Stroup/Vermont Cynic Although practically essential to everyday life, it's important to take frequent breaks from your computer.

For many college students, stress is not just an occasional problem-it's a lifestyle. Unfortunately, it happens to be an extremely unhealthy one.

Stress taxes the body, especially our most important organ: the heart.

According to http://www.healthguide.org, stress is a mental aggravation that can prevent us from effectively performing even the simplest tasks.

Here are a few easy tips for getting relaxed this semester.

Meditation: Meditation is often associated with stress relief, and with good reason.

According to Health Guide, meditation can bring on the relaxation response, slowing heart rate, deepening breaths and relaxing the muscles.

There are a variety of meditation techniques. It can be as straightforward as visualizing a relaxing place, or as complex as specific types of yoga.

You can learn about the meditation best suited for you at http://www.meditationcenter.com.

An important note: don't focus on whether or not you are doing it "right"-just do your best. A few minutes devoted to meditation will, at minimum, slow down your hectic pace.

Exercise: Getting the body into a natural rhythm, by doing repetitive exercise such as walking, jogging or biking, can be a great physical stress reliever.

Plus, to quote the male love-interest from "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", "the endorphins don't suck."

Try to do something that you won't dread or avoid, which might lead you to skip it, and stress even more.

Massage: Release some tension from your muscles by getting a massage. You could even treat yourself to a massage at one of Burlington's numerous spas or massage parlors.

"Massage therapy is one of the best antidotes for stress," affirms http://www.massagetherapy101.com.

"Massage boosts the body's immune system, which can become compromised from extended periods of stress. Tension can build up in the muscles, causing a decrease in circulation and nutrient delivery to tissues," the Web site says.

If you have the money, you could invest in a massage chair for the dorm. But perhaps the best and most realistic option would be to coerce a friend into massaging you-and maybe supplying one in return!

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