FYE Event: Stress Management

Since today was probably the most stressful day of my college career (so far...let me just say that it's only WEEK FIVE of my freshman year), I decided that it would probably be prudent to make time to go to a stress management session that the Center for Student Success was hosting.

Carving time out of my schedule to attend was a wise choice. The session only lasted for twenty minutes at the most, and it was packed with enough tips to answer all of my questions.

The thing that stood out to me as most helpful was the portion on food. My more attentive followers will probably realize as soon as they read that sentence that my last post was on food. Admittedly, it's a big part of my life and a big struggle for me. I've read countless articles on it, had a presenter speak to our Women in Leadership seminar about nutrition, and heard the same things again and again. Eat frequently. Eat healthy foods. Watch your portions. Don't indulge in caffeine.

When will I learn? For some reason, I always unconsciously slip back into the same habits. I eat infrequently and then overeat; I grab French fries instead of vegetables; I pay no attention to portions.

The presenter for the stress management session told us that eating healthily would make us more alert, more focused, and -- the thing which grabbed my attention the most -- it can help us to get more out of our studying sessions. Though I never thought of it in that context, it makes sense. Focusing after eating a light meal certainly sounds easier than trying to focus with a grumbling belly. Studying in a food coma sounds even worse. Food really does affect our productivity.

During the session, we were advised against caffeine, overly large portions, nicotine, alcohol, and large amounts of greasy, fatty foods. As a leader -- or maybe a leader in training -- I have decideded that it's time for the food battle to end. I'm going to truly watch what I eat now. I hope that the work I do from now on reflects this. If things go my way, people will know that I'm winning the battle without even asking.