Even though students have stress in their lives, it’s good to kick back and do something that you enjoy every once in awhile. Studies show that when you’re stressed, your mood, body and mind will change dramatically. When stressed, you have trouble sleeping, along with headaches and chest pain. You may find yourself overeating at times, and having angry outbursts. Studies even show that people who are extremely stressed lose their hair faster, and are at a higher risk for heart disease.

So what do you do if you’re stressed out? Well, most of the remedies are pretty obvious. Take a break from the cause of your stress, and do something fun. While this this differs from person to person as no two people’s minds are exactly the same, it’s healthy to find people with the same interests as you and participate in activities with them. “Reading always helps calm me down when I’m stressed,” a student said, “The stories are always exciting, and they take my mind off of all the work I have to do in life.”

Another great way to help with this issue is to get more sleep. Teenagers need an average of eight to ten hours of sleep each night in order to fully and properly function, one study shows that only 15 percent of middle and high schoolers get eight and a half hours of sleep on school nights. When you stay up late doing your homework, chances are you won’t do nearly as good of a job compared to when you got enough sleep. The stress will build and build, until it becomes too much to handle and your mind shuts down. One way to help you fall asleep is to not be on any electronic devices right before bed. They give off a light that keeps your brain awake, and makes it take longer to fall asleep. Your mind retains less information when you’re stressed and tired. So when you have to do your homework, you won’t understand the concept, which adds on to the pile of stress.

Exercise is another simple and easy way to ease that stress piling up in your mind. It gets your blood flowing, and is a great way to take your mind off your busy life. According to a study by ClevelandClinic, aerobic exercise has been proven to release endorphin, which are a natural substance that calms you down, therefore alleviating some of your stress.

While it’s good to work hard and study, remember, everyone has their limits. The next time you begin to feel overwhelmed, try these tips and techniques. Who knows? It may surprise you when you see just how much you gain.