Over the past few years alongside the Covid-19 situation, life has been difficult for many, if not everyone. With new systems of learning and work being put in place, many have been thrown dozens of unexpected curve balls. These curve balls have induced stress, anxiety, and over all mental distress. Stress is what makes being a human being, real. Oftentimes, stress sprouts from a young age and stems from either sports or academics or even both. For years on end, students, athletes, and adults will continue to deal with stress in either their professional lives or social lives and many individuals will resort to coping mechanisms in order to better manage this onset of stress.

For those that do not know, coping mechanisms are ways and or strategies that people frequently use in order to help better manage strong emotions, such as stress, anxiety, and or depression. Coping mechanisms are a way for people to adapt to stressful events while maintaining a relatively stable emotional well being.

For athletes, many use their sport as an outlet. This coping mechanism allows them to throw everything into their sport. They exert much of their anger and stress outwards and onto the sport. This allows them to not only better themselves at their sport but also de-stress and relieve anxiety through physical activities. 

Other individuals may use art as an escape from reality.These artists may paint, sing, or sculpt their emotions away. The creation of their art provides an outing for difficult emotions and a distraction from stressful thoughts or experiences. In addition, the engagement of people and participation in social activities is a great outlet. “I listen to music as a coping mechanism. It helps me relieve stress when I am not feeling well mentally. Music makes my mood feel better and listening to the right music inspires me to look forward to my future,” Sheridan Fung (11).  Music is an effective tool that helps relax and reduce stress. (https://www.unr.edu)

Hanging out with friends, spending time outside of a bedroom and classroom can be extremely beneficial. Friends and loved ones are a way to prevent self-isolation and offer companionship through hard times. People close to heart can provide distractions from the world and problems.