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DECA Direct Magazine: De-stress
Between school, volunteering, extracurricular activities and DECA, there’s never a shortage of things to do! Learn how to hit pause, slow down and discover the best ways to manage your stress.
5 Apps to Ease Your Stress
Looking to beat bad stress? Rather than endlessly scrolling through Instagram or stress-shopping on Amazon, turn to these apps to breathe, play and move your way to less stress!
Build Better Habits (and Break Your Bad Ones!)
Having the right habits is more important than ever as you navigate a busy school year. Read on to learn how you can create better habits in any area of your life, plus our tips and tricks for getting rid of your bad habits for good!
Mindfulness Your Way
You may have heard about mindfulness in one of your classes, and perhaps you’ve even tried meditating a time or two. For many people, meditation and other mindfulness practices are a go-to source for stress relief, getting in the zone before a role-play or resetting emotions after encountering an upsetting situation.
De-stress for Success
Life will always throw challenges your way, but the biggest challenges present opportunities for the greatest rewards. So, what’s the best way to manage stress? While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, here are some of the ways that work best for me.
Stress to Success: How to Use "Good Stress" to Succeed in Competition
Stress is often perceived as a negative experience, but the right kind of stress can actually fuel your success in competition and beyond. Read on to learn about "good stress", how to distinguish it from the bad and ways you can harness it to take your competitive edge to the next level!
Work Out the Stress
Today’s teens pack a lot into their busy schedules, which has caused stress levels and anxiety to increase in recent years. D’Andre Vasquez, DECA’s 2019-2020 High School Division President, discusses how he handles the stress in his life and how you can too!
How to Fight Off Zoom Fatigue
Whether it’s trying to combat Zoom fatigue or attempting to deal with the strain and stress that comes from staring at a screen all day, here are three tips to help you de-stress in an age of virtual living.
Take the Stress Out of DECA Scholarship Applications
Each year, DECA awards over $200,000 in scholarships to deserving high school and college members. Here are five tips to help take the stress out of applying for DECA scholarships.
5 Tips to Take Your Productivity to the #NextLevel
Schoolwork, volunteering, extracurricular activities, DECA... can you really do it all without endless all-nighters? We think so! Check out five of our favorite ways to level-up your schedules, to-do lists and priorities for peak productivity.
Managing Stress as a Small Business Owner
After six years as a small business owner and entrepreneur, I’ve adapted a few habits and philosophies that have helped me along the way. Here’s what I’ve learned.
Good Stress, Bad Stress: Find Your Sweet Spot
We all experience stress on a daily basis, but the amount we experience depends on how well we cope with the various stressors in our lives. Here are a few tips to help you identify good versus bad stress and find the perfect balance.
How to Make the Most of Your Summer Internship
Whether you are exploring a new industry, building connections, gaining experience or aiming for a post-graduation job offer, internships are the perfect opportunity to learn more about yourself and your future career goals.
5 Ways to Build Your Platform for the Upcoming School Year
While summer is definitely a time to rest, reset and enjoy a well-earned break, it is also the perfect season to start thinking about the year ahead. Here are five ways to build your platform for the 2026–2027 year!
Case Study of the Week: K-pop Revenge?
Step into the role of the promotional director for Shony Pictures Animation. The vice president wants you to create a promotional plan for the theatrical release of Revenge at K-pop Hall.
Collegiate DECA Competitive Event Draft Topics Announced for 2026-2027
Get a head start on the 2026-27 competition season with Collegiate DECA's competitive event draft topics for the Business Research, Digital Marketing Strategies and Financial Statement Analysis events.
Intuit’s 2026 Life-ing Report: How New Grads Are Navigating The Financial Transition To Adulthood
Graduation is a memorable ‘life-ing’ moment for many people. To spotlight what this transition actually looks like for today’s graduates, Intuit surveyed recent and soon-to-be college graduates across the classes of 2023 through 2026.
16 Personal Finance Terms Everyone Should Know
Learning the language of personal finance is one of the most practical steps you can take toward feeling more in control of your money. This guide walks you through 16 essential terms, from everyday basics to more advanced concepts.
Case Study of the Week: Tradeshow Planning
Step into the role of the owner of Splendid Foods, a business that produces varieties of protein bars, granola bars and other nutritious snacks. Your business partner has asked you to determine the marketing plan for a food industry trade show.
Apply Today for the Adobe x DECA Luminary 2026 Program
The DECA Luminary Program is an opportunity for exceptional chapter advisors who not only excel in their roles but also show strong potential to mentor fellow advisors within their chartered associations by leading professional learning experiences.
Case Study of the Week: Destination Skillcation
Step into the role of the marketing consultant hired by Bird Investigate, a company that offers bird-watching and bird-identifying tours. The owner of Bird Investigate wants you to rebrand the company.
Your Guide to Understanding DECA ICDC's Competitive Event Process and Performance Reports
If you're looking for more information on DECA's International Career Development Conference competitive events process and performance reports, look no further! Explore these frequently asked questions and answers.
Download ICDC 2026 Certificates and Competitor Performance Reports
Learn how to download certificates and competitive event performance reports from DECA's 2026 Collegiate and High School International Career Development Conferences.
Case Study of the Week: A Kid Character On Social Media
Step into the role of the director of corporate communications for Orangey, a popular animated series for preschoolers. The president wants you to decide how to proceed on social media and develop a communications plan that will deliver a strategic message.
