The human body feels stress when there is a real or perceived threat. This causes a release of hormones that prepare us for a “fight or flight” response. Unless you are in real danger, many stressful situations can be eased by practicing a mindful change in attitude.  Keep things in perspective. Work, school, and family commitments are common stressors in the 21st century. The pressures you feel are real, but are not always life-or-death situations. Try to recognize the positive and see how things can be worked out in the future.  Set realistic expectations. Some people feel overly stressed because of the pressure they put on themselves to do things perfectly. Try to set expectations that are fit your situation. Stick to a realistic goal and try not to push yourself over the edge.  Don't over think things that are out of your control. If you have a problem, set an action plan to work things out in the best way possible. Do what you can, and try not to worry once matters are out of your hands. Set aside time to relax and do the things that make you happy. Watch a movie, read, or take a warm bath. Make sure it is an activity that brings you joy and comfort. . Meditation can make you more aware of your thoughts and general mental state. Bringing awareness to your stress can often help reduce its presence. There are many types of meditation, so do some research to find what is best for you.  To do a simple meditation, find a comfortable place and sit or lie down. Then, you can focus your eyes on an object or candle flame, or close your eyes to begin meditating. Try to clear your mind and focus on an object or repeat a mantra to yourself, such as, "I am calm and serene." If your mind wanders, then try to notice the thought and then let it pass, like watching a cloud float away. Start by just meditating for 5 to 10 minutes and then work up to meditating for longer periods as you get better at it. .  If your home is a relaxing place, then you may find it easier to relax. Try keep your home, or at least one room in your home, clean and clutter-free.  Try decorating a room with calming things, such as by painting it a soothing color, like light blue or lavender. Use as much natural lighting in your home as possible. You can also try using aromatherapy in your home, such as by burning a calming scented candle, such as a lavender scented candle.

Summary: Adopt a positive attitude. Give yourself some relaxation time. Meditate Create a stress-free home environment


You may already have the information you need to find out what it is you want to know. Before you ask a question, think it over and make sure it’s something you can’t find out on your own. Review your textbook and notes and look for the answer there.  Learning to search for answers independently can improve your study habits and make you more resourceful. It can be somewhat embarrassing to ask a question when the answer is right in front of you. A lot of students tend to be shy about asking questions, but there’s no reason to be. Think of questions as a tool you can use to make learning more effective. Even if the answer is a simple one, the fact that you had the presence of mind to ask will show that you’re engaged with the course material.  Chances are, someone else in the class has the same question and is too timid bring it up.  Once you’ve gotten comfortable expressing yourself in class, you’ll be more confident about asking questions in the future. Articulate your words and make sure the teacher and the rest of the class can hear you. That way, you won’t be forced to repeat yourself.  You should talk loud enough to be heard clearly, but try not to shout. Muttering or talking under your breath may make you hard to hear. There’s no need to ramble on and on or preface the question with other sorts of statements. Make it short and to the point. Your teacher will be better able to answer you, and you won’t lose any important class time. To avoid confusion, the first thing you say should be a key question word: who, what, where, when, why or how. Point out exactly what you need clarified. This could be anything from a particular date, figure or spelling to more involved questions like the meaning of an idiom or a breakdown of the individual steps in a biological process. The key is to word your question carefully so that you can receive the information you’re missing.  “What year did the French Revolution start?” is a better question than “when was that, again?” You could also phrase your question as a request—for instance, “could you spell that?” or “would it be possible to see that previous slide again?” Avoid asking questions that are vague or open-ended. Look directly at the teacher while they’re answering you, or take notes so that you can look them over later. Nod occasionally to indicate that you understand what you’re being told. Once the answer has been explained satisfactorily, thank the teacher.  If you’re still having trouble grasping something, ask the teacher for clarification before you move on. Don’t interrupt or let your eyes wander around the room. This could be considered rude.

Summary: See if you can come up with the answer yourself. Calm your nerves. Speak in a clear, audible voice. Keep your question brief. Ask for specific information. Listen attentively to the answer.


As you combine pine nuts, basil, lemon, and garlic in a food processor to make pesto sauce, sprinkle in about 1 tbsp (7 g) of spirulina powder per serving. If you are making a lot of pesto, this will feel like a lot of spirulina, but the strong blast of flavors that are unique to this sauce will effortlessly cover up the taste of the powder on your tongue.  Pesto is already green, so you may not notice a change in color as the spirulina is mixed into the sauce. Check the food processor every couple seconds to see if you can make out any noticeable bits of powder, and stir it around before pulsing again to get an even mix. Affectionately called "energy balls" by the health food community, superfood bites are usually made with various types of nuts, figs, cocoa powder, and coconut. As you combine the ingredients in a food processor, sprinkle in 2 tbsp (14 g) of spirulina powder. There are a variety of ways to make energy balls, with and without nuts, with eggs, and even with juice. Opt for one that seems tasty to you and mix in the spirulina as you mix the ingredients together. This is possibly the easiest way to incorporate spirulina into your diet for on-the-go snacking. Simply take a tub of your favorite hummus brand and stir in about 1 tsp (5 g) of spirulina. It will turn the hummus a deep green, but the Mediterranean flavors go perfectly with the sea flavors of this nutritious algae. It's best to avoid using flavored hummus with spirulina powder, but if you would prefer to have more flavor, opt for a spinach-based or artichoke-based hummus, as these flavors combine well with spirulina.
Summary: Add spirulina powder as you make pesto sauce. Make superfood bites with nuts, figs, and spirulina. Sprinkle spirulina into hummus for quick snacking.