Katie Woosley

If you’ve read my previous two posts about physical therapy school, you probably know by now that it can be pretty stressful at times. I always say some level of stress/anxiety is good because that means you care about what you’re doing, however, if you get too stressed it can really take a toll on you physically, mentally, and academically. I have several friends applying or getting ready to begin PT school, and the first thing I always tell them when they ask for advice is take time for yourself away from school each day. There will be days when you feel like you just don’t have time to stop studying, but I promise taking 30 minutes to go to the gym, watch your favorite show, or sit on the porch will be so worth it! I’ve talked a little bit about stress management in my previous posts, but because it is so important for success, I wanted to make a whole post dedicated to it. Everyone manages stress differently, so today, I wanted to share not only what I like to do to relieve stress, but also what some of my classmates like to do as well!

1. Exercising

When I asked my roommate, Madelyn, what she does to relieve stress she responded with, “I pick up heavy things and put them back down” 🙂 . I can relate! I, and many of my classmates, do this to manage stress as well. Madelyn says working out in the mornings helps her focus better during class. Personally, I find the mornings to be a productive study time, so I like to wait and workout after class. No matter what time of day you do it, moving your body has SO many benefits! Find a time that works best for you and something you enjoy! This could be lifting weights, running, dancing, cycling…the options are endless! One of my classmates taught yoga last year, so a couple friends and I would go to her class each week. It was so nice to be able to put aside school for an hour and clear my mind…and it was also a great workout! My classmate, Liz, coaches CrossFit and several people in my class love that as well!

2. Arts/Crafts

I don’t have an artistic bone in my body, but several of my classmates do and use art to relieve stress! My classmate, Shelby, finds painting to be very calming and therapeutic. She painted this beautiful ocean scene! Another classmate, Dynah, likes to do embroidery. How cute are her little turtles?!

3. Pets!

Pets are such a good stress reliever! I have two dogs at home, but unfortunately, I don’t have any pets with me at school. The good news is, a lot of my classmates do, so I still get to hang out with cute animals frequently! My classmates Anna and Emily got their cat Gretchen during the first year of school, and they said it was so nice to be able to take a study break and cuddle with her. One of my classmates who lives in my apartment complex just got the sweetest little puppy named Millie, so I love getting to see her! If you can’t have animals, you could always volunteer at a shelter once a week!

^{From left to right: Anna and Gretchen, Lauren and Peaches, Millie}

4. Reading

In addition to playing with her cat, Anna likes to use reading for stress relief. She turns off all of her devices and reads whatever she wants for 30 minutes each night. She says she feels like it helps her wind down and takes her mind off studying. I like to do a short devotional before bed, but reading more is something I have been trying to do recently. Even if you don’t like to read, I think turning off devices 30 minutes before bed is a great idea. Then, you won’t see any emails, Canvas notifications, or texts from classmates who may be studying. This can definitely help you relax before bed!

5. Baking

Baking is something that tends to stress a lot of people out, but I find it to do the opposite. After a big test, I often end up in the kitchen making dozens of cookies or a cake. Baking is not only something I enjoy, but it also requires some thinking, which takes my mind off school for a bit. My classmates also enjoy my stress baking because I can’t eat all that food by myself! 🙂

6. Volunteering

Volunteering is something I love to do, and luckily my program has so many opportunities to get involved in the community. During fall semester, me and a few other classmates got involved with a program at my school called Dance Abilities. This organization gives children with special needs the opportunity to attend a dance class once a week. I danced throughout middle/high school, and I love kids, so it is a perfect fit! It’s such an amazing program, and I look forward to it each week! It is so rewarding to put a smile on the kids’ faces! If I’m having a rough day, this always makes it better.

7. Hanging Out With Friends Outside of School

PT school will give you some of your closest friends! You will see them all the time in class, but make sure to take some time to have fun outside of school! Go out to eat, to church, or on a weekend trip. Have a game night, movie night, or pool day. If you have the opportunity, I also recommend spending time with people who aren’t currently in school with you. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, if you are with classmates the conversations will often involve school. Luckily, I know a couple other people in town, so I like to go grab lunch with them sometimes. This helps get me out of that “PT school bubble.”

Here are a few fun memories from my classmates and I during our first year of PT school. One of my personal favorites is the snowman picture from my classmate, Jill. It never snows where we are, so they took full advantage of it when it did!

These are just a few ways my classmates and I relieve stress, but, like I said, everyone is different! A common answer we receive in PT school is “it depends” and, trust me, that answer will drive you crazy sometimes. However, the best way to manage stress truly does depend on the person. There is no magic answer, but hopefully this gives you some ideas! The key is to find something you enjoy and take the time to do it each day…no matter how busy you are!