Satieria Clowers
November 14, 2018
As a college student, sometimes an individual may find oneself trying to balance many things such as academics, social life, memberships, a job and perhaps an internship all on one plate. Trying to balance all these things causes stress. busy life, they may start to feel overwhelmed and stressed. These feelings could eventually affect a person’s physical and mental health negatively. Being very occupied throughout the day can be tiring and finding time for personal care may not have made its way to the calendar or it’s not on the priority list. Here are some tips on how to deal with stress and to help make college years less stressful.
What is stress?
According to Health Line, stress is a situation that triggers a particular biological response. When you encounter sudden stress, your brain floods your body with chemicals and hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Too much constant stress can have negative effects on your long-term health.
Stress can affect your body, behavior, habits, thoughts and feelings. Mayo Clinic’s common effects of stress on your body include headaches, muscle tensions or
pain, fatigue, chest pain, upset stomach and sleeping problems.
According to the CDC, common reactions to stress can include:
- Feeling sad, frustrated and helpless
- Loss of appetite
- Wanting to be alone
- Anger, tension and irritability
- Loss of sleep
- Reduced interest in usual activities
Tips for Dealing with Stress
- Get enough sleep
Getting at least eight hours of sleep is easier said than done, but when you’ve been up studying until midnight for your morning class you could increase your chances of stress, illnesses, depression and obesity. “Students complain about being stressed out about classes all the time. One of the top reasons students are stressed out is because they don’t get a sufficient amount of sleep,” counseling psychologist Andrea Lamar said. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night to help your mind and body.
- Exercise
When you’re stressed, physical activities can help reduce stress levels. You could go to the gym on your own, join an intramural sports team or attend group exercise classes to take your mind off of the events you’re stressing about. Exercise helps with lowering risks of diseases, improve brain function, promotes circulation of blood and oxygen to the brain. “I cope with stress by trying to keep up with morning yoga, or either use my stress ball when I become too overwhelmed,” Georgia State University junior Jess Adams said.
- Watch what you drink
Consuming excessive caffeine and unnatural energy boosters may help you stay awake for class or to study but, if your body doesn’t receive the sleep that it needs, more problems will arise. Also, consuming alcohol to alleviate stress is not beneficial.
- Get support
Whether it’s a friend, family member or spouse, you’ll need someone to lean on especially if you need to vent your frustrations to. When choosing whom to lean on, make sure they can be trusted, not judgmental and that they can give you advice. If you don’t have a trusted person, seek a professional counselor. Some college campuses offer counseling help services for students to use especially for times as this. Don’t be afraid to use your resources especially if it’s included in your tuition.
- Don’t overload yourself
Be sure not to pile yourself with excessive work, extracurricular and maybe a job. Remember to adjust expectations you have for yourself and not to compare yourself to others. You may have desire to be a member of five organizations while taking 15 credit hours, but sometimes it can be too much and you may have to make sacrifices for your well-being.
- Self-care
Find a way to relax, whether it’s going shopping, dancing or knitting. Do something you enjoy doing to relax your mind and escape reality. “I’ll get my nails and toes done in order to relax me and at least still maintain a pleasant appearance even though I’m tired,” Georgia State University junior Jess Adams said.
- Develop time management skills
Planning out your week by creating a schedule and with a list of times you need to get that specific activity done because it’s impossible to get everything done at once. This will help to break down everything you need to do without feeling overwhelmed.
- Eat healthy
Distance yourself from unhealthy foods. Consuming greasy, salty and fatty foods such as pizza and ramen can cause more negative effects on your body such as making you feel tired and sluggish. Instead, choose more nutritious foods such as vegetables, greens, water and herbal tea. Perhaps choosing salads over pizza, fresh fruit over ramen and water over soda.
- Breathe
Deep breathing relaxes muscles, promotes mental clarity and reduced tension. Inhale and exhale. Sometimes, college campuses offer mind and body wellness clinics that practice mindfulness and awareness to meditation.
With finals approaching, keep these tips near as they could also help bring some relief and enhance one’s college career.