In college, every student experiences stress. For some students, a little stress is a motivator that helps them prepare and perform. For other students, stress exceeds their level for tolerance and makes them lose their focus, wastes their time, saps their energy and sabotages their performance. Too much stress is never good for us.
In college, sources of stress can include:
1. People - Family members, boy/girlfriends, professors, employers, dorm mates and others can all cause stress when conflicts arise.
2. Deadlines, Workload and Difficult Assignments - It is easy to feel overwhelmed when there are too many difficult things to do and not enough time to do them. Consistently long hours can cause stress.
3. Money & Job Issues - Many students go through college using money they have borrowed and with the money they earn from part-time and summer jobs. When unexpected expenses pop up or when an income source is interrupted or stops, things can get complicated and stressful.
4. Loneliness / Isolation - Stress can occur when students get homesick and miss their families and old friends. Others fail to make friends at college and feel lonely or isolated.
5. The Environment - Dorm living can mean compromises, cramped quarters, shared bathrooms, bright lights, noise, little privacy and messy conditions. All of this can be stressful.
6. Trauma - When students have been in an accident or are assaulted, raped, harassed or in some way harmed, they will be stressed.
7. Health Issues - Students who are physically ill or psychologically injured, often are already or will soon become stressed and depressed. Signals from your body can include can include nervousness, headaches, eye strain, upset stomachs, tears and back pain.
Coping mechanisms include:
1. Physical Activity - Since stress usually manifests itself in the body, physical activity can help to relieve the problem. Forms of activity include: Exercise, Walking, Jogging, Sports of all kinds, Calisthenics, Dancing, Rope Skipping, Ping Pong, Yoga, Deep Breathing, A Massage, Singing, Stretching, Squeeze Toys, Twisting a Towel, Screaming and Laughing.
2. Food & Beverages - Avoid caffeine and sugar. Eat a healthy diet including fruit and vegetables. Recognize that carbohydrates can relieve stress but add weight. Consider Popcorn and Pretzels (Low-fat, Hi-Carb foods).
3. Establish Schedules and Routines - Go to sleep at the same time each night. Get 7 or 8 hours of sleep during the week. Get up at the same time each morning. Eat a healthy breakfast. Define you study times.
4. Preparation - Gather the tools and do the research before you get started. Understand what is needed. When you are prepared, there is little reason to be stressed. Break large projects into a series of small projects. Identify the critical parts and do them first. Get help with the things you do not understand. When you get tired of working on one segment, switch to another segment for a while.
5. Your Attitude - Consider meditation and use visualization for being in a peaceful place and being successful in what you are about to do. Create a few personal incentives and rewards for achieving a milestone and accomplishing the goal. Relaxing music can also help. Keep some flowers in your room. Play with a pet. View your favorite comedy movie. Spend time with an upbeat friend. All of these things can improve your attitude.
6. Think Prevention - Anticipate and prevent problems. Start and finish things early. Set priorities. Allocate enough time. Build in a cushion for the unexpected. Get help when it is needed. Fight procrastination. Take periodic breaks. Set Limits. Say "no" to the unimportant things. Avoid the last minute rush. Strive for a balance. Learn the principles of time management. Use a calendar, a To-Do List and a planner.
When you recognize and understand the causes of your stress, it is easier to develop a plan to prevent as many as possible and deal more effectively with those that remain. However, if you find that stress is severely interfering with your performance, visit the Health Services Office on your campus to get some additional advice.
Bob Roth, a former campus recruiter, is the author of four books: The College Student's Companion, College Success: Advice for Parents of High School and College Students, The College Student's Guide To Landing A Great Job -and- The 4 Realities Of Success During and After College. Known as The "College & Career Success" Coach, Bob writes articles for College Career Services Offices, Campus Newspapers, Parent Associations and Employment Web Sites. Bob has created The Job Identification Machine™, a system that colleges use to identify thousands of employment opportunities for students. He has been interviewed on numerous radio programs across the country and by many publications, including U.S. News & World Report and The Wall Street Journal. http://www.The4Realities.com. Bob's Blog- http://collegesuccess.blog.com
In college, sources of stress can include:
1. People - Family members, boy/girlfriends, professors, employers, dorm mates and others can all cause stress when conflicts arise.
2. Deadlines, Workload and Difficult Assignments - It is easy to feel overwhelmed when there are too many difficult things to do and not enough time to do them. Consistently long hours can cause stress.
3. Money & Job Issues - Many students go through college using money they have borrowed and with the money they earn from part-time and summer jobs. When unexpected expenses pop up or when an income source is interrupted or stops, things can get complicated and stressful.
4. Loneliness / Isolation - Stress can occur when students get homesick and miss their families and old friends. Others fail to make friends at college and feel lonely or isolated.
5. The Environment - Dorm living can mean compromises, cramped quarters, shared bathrooms, bright lights, noise, little privacy and messy conditions. All of this can be stressful.
6. Trauma - When students have been in an accident or are assaulted, raped, harassed or in some way harmed, they will be stressed.
7. Health Issues - Students who are physically ill or psychologically injured, often are already or will soon become stressed and depressed. Signals from your body can include can include nervousness, headaches, eye strain, upset stomachs, tears and back pain.
Coping mechanisms include:
1. Physical Activity - Since stress usually manifests itself in the body, physical activity can help to relieve the problem. Forms of activity include: Exercise, Walking, Jogging, Sports of all kinds, Calisthenics, Dancing, Rope Skipping, Ping Pong, Yoga, Deep Breathing, A Massage, Singing, Stretching, Squeeze Toys, Twisting a Towel, Screaming and Laughing.
2. Food & Beverages - Avoid caffeine and sugar. Eat a healthy diet including fruit and vegetables. Recognize that carbohydrates can relieve stress but add weight. Consider Popcorn and Pretzels (Low-fat, Hi-Carb foods).
3. Establish Schedules and Routines - Go to sleep at the same time each night. Get 7 or 8 hours of sleep during the week. Get up at the same time each morning. Eat a healthy breakfast. Define you study times.
4. Preparation - Gather the tools and do the research before you get started. Understand what is needed. When you are prepared, there is little reason to be stressed. Break large projects into a series of small projects. Identify the critical parts and do them first. Get help with the things you do not understand. When you get tired of working on one segment, switch to another segment for a while.
5. Your Attitude - Consider meditation and use visualization for being in a peaceful place and being successful in what you are about to do. Create a few personal incentives and rewards for achieving a milestone and accomplishing the goal. Relaxing music can also help. Keep some flowers in your room. Play with a pet. View your favorite comedy movie. Spend time with an upbeat friend. All of these things can improve your attitude.
6. Think Prevention - Anticipate and prevent problems. Start and finish things early. Set priorities. Allocate enough time. Build in a cushion for the unexpected. Get help when it is needed. Fight procrastination. Take periodic breaks. Set Limits. Say "no" to the unimportant things. Avoid the last minute rush. Strive for a balance. Learn the principles of time management. Use a calendar, a To-Do List and a planner.
When you recognize and understand the causes of your stress, it is easier to develop a plan to prevent as many as possible and deal more effectively with those that remain. However, if you find that stress is severely interfering with your performance, visit the Health Services Office on your campus to get some additional advice.
Bob Roth, a former campus recruiter, is the author of four books: The College Student's Companion, College Success: Advice for Parents of High School and College Students, The College Student's Guide To Landing A Great Job -and- The 4 Realities Of Success During and After College. Known as The "College & Career Success" Coach, Bob writes articles for College Career Services Offices, Campus Newspapers, Parent Associations and Employment Web Sites. Bob has created The Job Identification Machine™, a system that colleges use to identify thousands of employment opportunities for students. He has been interviewed on numerous radio programs across the country and by many publications, including U.S. News & World Report and The Wall Street Journal. http://www.The4Realities.com. Bob's Blog- http://collegesuccess.blog.com