Camille Schwartz
Contributing Writer
In contrast to the romanticized images of college life depicted in films and television shows, being a student can be a stressful time for those attempting to balance various extra-curricular activities, academics and a social life. Fortunately, there are steps and actions you can take to manage your stress levels. Below are some tips for how you can minimize stress in your life so that you maximize your college experience.
Take time to nourish yourself
Most students have experienced days, weeks or even months when they feel that if they take a break from what they’re doing for even 15 minutes they’ll fall behind. Anne Ober, a therapist from the Longbrake Student Wellness Center explains: “In general, when we get stressed, we cut out the very things that can help us with our stress. Things like exercising (just getting moving and being active, you don’t need to strain yourself at the Scot Center), getting good rest (putting down your phone, and laptop, and letting your mind and body relax on their own) and setting realistic expectations for ourselves (both in terms of amount of work and the outcome) are essential.”
Be okay with where you are
As a college student, it’s easy to feel like you aren’t smart enough or accomplished enough. However, it’s important to remember that comparing yourself to others is only a recipe for stress and burnout. Look at your own achievements and realize how far you’ve come. Be confident about your own abilities and know when it’s time to call it quits on an assignment. Instead of focusing on what you can’t or aren’t doing, take time each day to embrace and be grateful for your own unique talents and skills.
Prioritize what’s most important
Do you frequently get take-out boxes at Lowry or skip meals? Are you regularly getting only five to six hours of sleep? Do you feel stressed or overwhelmed on a daily basis? If you said yes to one or more of these questions, you likely have too much on your plate. The key to managing stress is learning how to prioritize your schedule. Make a list on a piece of paper of all your activities on campus and rate them from least important to most important in your life. From this list, eliminate the activities that do not provide you value and or joy.
Be proactive instead of reactive
Kazuki Kyotani ’14 explains that “stress happens when we worry about things that we don’t have the ability to change.” At the end of the day, you can’t control your workload or how your teacher grades a test. However, you can choose how you react to the situation. Examine your own behaviors and attitudes and see if they are contributing to some of the stress in your life. Being proactive means focusing on actions and steps you can take to accomplish your goals rather than just adjusting to an outcome of a situation. The next time you feel overwhelmed by an upcoming paper or exam take a deep breath and ask yourself what steps you can take to improve the situation.
While, many of us will never be as care-free as the college students portrayed on television, all of us have the power to manage our stress so that we can make the most of our college experience.