The start of the school year is just around the corner. For some, that means stress looms just around the corner, too. In fact, you may already be stressed just thinking about it: Will I get good grades this year? Will I make the Varsity Soccer team? What will I wear on the first day?

A little stress can be good for you. It can be a motivator, help you to stay focused and help to you do your best work. Stress is what keeps you sharp during a presentation, or drives you to study for your midterm – but when it spirals out of control and you’ve reached the point of being “stressed-out”, stress becomes a threat to both your physical and emotional well-being.

This year, you can try to take control of your stress before it takes control of you! One powerful way to prevent stress altogether is to incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine. Walking just 20 minutes a day can change your body chemistry in a way that reduces stress significantly. This is because aerobic exercise causes the body to produce endorphins, which are neurotransmitters that resemble opiates and create a sense of well-being.

You can also combat stress by reducing consumption of stimulants like caffeine and sugar—which can make you more susceptible to stress. This helps keep stress levels low and helps you to get your body back into a healthy balance.

When starts to build up, getting enough oxygen to your body is critical, so focusing on your breath can help reduce stress and anxiety. Try breathing in deeply through your nose and out through your mouth repeatedly,

If all else fails, take a short break, mentally transporting yourself to your “happy place”, to take you out of the stressful moment and into a better frame of mind.

Learning to control anxiety through mindful breathing, exercise, and short breaks can be very helpful in reducing stress. So before you fill your schedule with homework assignments, exam dates, and soccer matches, make sure that you reserve some time for yourself. It’ll help you stay healthy, balanced, and focused when your life gets kicked back into high-gear this fall.

Related Links:

• Video: 7 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress from illumistream health
• American Institute of Stress
• Going Back to School from KidsHealth.org