Our actual problem isn’t stress itself. In fact, stress is our response to almost any strong impact. Stress can even be positive, but such kind of it is definitely not an issue. The problems don’t start at the moment you worry about classes, tests, or exams. They begin when you feel anxiety, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or sleep problems.
Unfortunately, such manifestations of stress are common among students at all levels of education—from primary school through university. Sometimes, such problems are short-term, for instance, if they’re related to exams. In such cases, the student gets nervous about searching for information related to their exams, such as essay word limit, details of the correct citation, and so on.
While the stress related to the exams passes along with them, general academic stress might not be so short-term. Education can be a highly stressful thing, and it is no wonder that students get into a vicious circle. They worry about their education and academic performance, and these manifestations related to those concerns do not allow them to be productive.
Many students start searching for write my paper websites to get help at least with part of their tasks. And even though sometimes assistance with essays can be truly useful, in case of high stress, it can be better to cope with the main reason.
Stress-coping ways and why soccer is preferable
So, how can soccer help with academic stress? The short answer is “stress reduction through physical activity.” But you might need more details on that.
The fact is, any physical activity allows us to feel a little bit better when we’re stressed, depressed, or have any other negative experience in our lives. The reason for that is the way our nervous system works. Let's leave the complex explanation to the scientists and look at it simply
The part of our nervous system, particularly that is designed to cope with stress, doesn’t understand such complex things as “bad grades,” “academic problems,” or “career issues.” It understands the danger in a very simple way, such as “I’m starving” or “I’m attacked.” That’s why we feel less stressed after we eat. And that’s the reason we feel better after physical activity. Our nervous system thinks that we run away or repel an attack.
There’s nothing bad if you have a bigger portion after a stressful day or please yourself with something sweet. However, when it comes to academic stress, such things can lead to unhealthy eating habits. Physical activity, on the other hand, will provide you with more benefits than you see at first.
Mental health benefits
Physical activity is helpful for your nervous system; it helps us to feel better and safer. But what else? No less important fact is that stress is often about lack of control. You don’t know if you can cope with your homework, you don’t know if you pass the exam, and you’re not sure if studying will give you the bright result you want.
Soccer, in contrast, allows you to feel control over your body and your part in the game. A successful game, or the one you enjoy even without winning, can give you the power to cope with academic challenges. With increased self-esteem and confidence, you can feel refreshed and ready to start working on your academic tasks.
Physical benefits of the game
You already read from above that physical activity is helpful when you need to reduce stress. So, in fact, you can choose any kind of activity. Even a simple walk can help you to feel better. It only depends on what you think during it. If your thoughts are taken with the same worries about education, you might not feel much better. However, if you allow yourself to relax a little, probably listen to music and think about something pleasant, even a short walk can be stress-releasing and refreshing.
You might prefer soccer to other activities because it involves both your body and your thoughts. During a walk or some physical exercise, you might think about anything, including drowning in your worries. However, when you play soccer, you need to focus on the game and let all other thoughts go away.
Soccer and social skills
Scientists tell us that even though sometimes we want to rest alone and away from everything and everyone, people are still social beings. We need the support of other people. In fact, we cope with stress and any troubles in our lives when we have the support of our family and friends.
Soccer is a team game. It can help you to develop relationships with other people or just feel stronger about the relationships you already have. The main point is that it helps you feel you’re not alone with your stress and troubles. You might not talk with your team about your grades, homework, or any other aspects of academic life that bother you if you don’t want to. But it’s important to feel that you have people on your side, and they can help you if you need them.
Tips for incorporating soccer into academic life
Ideas from above seemed quite perceiving for you? Do you want to start playing but aren’t quite sure what to start with? Here are a few useful tips on how you can start playing soccer to cope with your academic stress.
- Joining school teams or intramural leagues
- Organizing pickup games with friends
- Using soccer as a reward for completing study goals
The last idea is especially useful if you have trouble starting work on your classes or preparing for your exams. There’s such a thing as positive reinforcement. In simple words, you get a more or less regular reward for some activity, and that reward encourages you to continue or repeat the thing you get a reward for.
If you do like soccer and enjoy playing it, you can use it as positive reinforcement for your studies. You will participate in the game you like, reduce the stress with the physical activity, and get all the other benefits of soccer that you have just read about.