If you are studying at university or college, you’d be the first to say that things can sometimes get stressful. Student stress is totally normal and valid. You might get anxious about an upcoming exam, a major requirement, peer pressure, or other personal issues interfering with your college life.
However, if you don’t know how to manage stress, it can cause physical and mental side effects such as difficulty focusing, irritation, a lack of energy, changes in appetite, a weakened immune system, and difficulty sleeping. It can make university/college life even more challenging.
But don’t worry, we got you covered! In this post, we present 7 stress management techniques. Make sure to read until the end.
7 Stress Management Techniques
1. Do Some Self-Care
Stress generates tension in the body through stiff and aching muscles, headaches, or weakened immune systems. You can reduce stress and pressure by prioritizing self-care in your busy schedule. You can relax by going to a spa, taking a bubble bath, practicing meditation, or going out on a date with yourself.
Treat yourself to ice cream or jam to your favourite music.
2. Rest Well
We can recharge our brains, mend our muscles, consolidate memories, and strengthen our immune systems, all while we sleep. In contrast, not getting enough sleep causes individuals to experience higher stress levels.
Many college students stay up all night preparing for an exam. While this behaviour is common, it’s important to know that it can result in insomnia and sleep deprivation, negatively affecting cognitive function, academic performance, and mental health. Try strategies like limiting your coffee intake, dimming the lights, or putting away technology at least an hour before bed if you have difficulties falling asleep at night.
3. Manage Your Time
Using time management tools, you may stay organized and more effectively concentrate on your most important tasks. You can manage your schedule and stay organized by noting your projects, assignments, and tests in a planner or on your phone.
You can plan your day when you need to study or complete an assignment. Effective time management can help you feel less stressed and anxious by keeping you organized and enhancing your academic achievement.
4. Have A Support Circle
Gaining emotional support can help build a stress-resilient buffer. However, interpersonal relationships may also cause anxiety and student stress due to changes in friendships, breakups in romantic relationships, and life adjustments like moving away from home to live on campus.
Extending your circle of friends and cultivating your relationships are two ways to fight feelings of isolation and ensure you have people to turn to in difficult times.
Talk to a friend and joke about things. Laughter can be very therapeutic!
5. Eat Healthily
Students’ stress can both enhance and decrease hunger by generating corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). You may not be aware, but your food can either increase or decrease your mental energy. You can become more sensitive to stress in your life and find yourself relying on high-fat, high-sugar items to alleviate your symptoms momentarily.
A balanced diet can reduce stress in several ways. You can avoid mood swings, headaches, fatigue, and other side effects by changing your diet to healthy meals.
6. Try Meditation
College students lead hectic lives and are frequently preoccupied, making it difficult to be fully present. Mindfulness is raised, and background noise is reduced with meditation.
It can be practiced in various ways, including daily activities and reflection. Not only will this help with concentration and memory, but it is also a healthy way to manage stress.
7. Make A Stress Journal
Writing in a journal can be quite therapeutic and help reduce stress. Keep a journal of your daily thoughts and emotions or a stress notebook. This kind of approach can assist you in identifying patterns of ongoing stress in your life and exploring your coping mechanisms.
Conclusion
Stress is different for every student. It could require some trial and error to determine what works for you. Making sure you are taking care of your physical and mental needs and experimenting with various stress-relieving techniques to decide which ones work best for you to feel less stressed is an excellent place to start.
How do you cope with stress? Share your tips below.
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