Health Matters

Stress Management Tips for College Students

By Cameron White

Living the life of a college student requires an act of balance. With all of the assignments, research papers, examinations, internships, job searches and social life, the stress eventually starts to take its toll. How do you go about dealing with it all and still remain sensible?

These are some easy tips to cope with your stress and to keep your life in balance:

•   Eat healthy. You will find that when you are stressed, your healthy diet goes way. When you have too much spare time on your hands, or don’t feel like cooking, all the junk food surrounding you is rather tempting to consume. But, you must stop and ask yourself, “Do I ever feel physically good after eating a bunch of junk food?” In most cases, probably not. Do yourself a favor and pass on the greasy and unhealthy foods, and pick something more along the lines of fruits/salads. Both physically and mentally, you will feel more in balanced.

•     Get your rest. Sleep is most likely one of the toughest phases of your life to adjust during the college years. How can you anticipate getting the proper amount of sleep during the week when homework, various tests, internships, working, extracurricular meetings, and your social life keep you up late? The truth is that sleep is a huge stress reliever. Even if you were to take a powernap, your mind could work through problems and readjust. For most individuals, taking a nap is like hitting the reset switch for your brain.

•     Go for a walk. Exercise can reduce the anxiety that you may be experiencing, even if it is in the form of a short walk. It does not have to be a long walk; at the most, a five-minute walk outside should be enough. Your brain will be grateful for that mental break; and your body will be thankful, too.

•     Make a “To Do” list. You may find yourself feeling recovered if you can see a written list of what needs to be completed. This will help to clear your head; you can focus on one task at a time. It will be a rewarding feeling to cross something off your list.

•     Change your surroundings every once in a while. Are you constantly trapped inside your room working? A change of scenery can be helpful and may help you to become more motivated to get your work done. Take a walk outside somewhere on campus, to the library, etc. You may find that you will concentrate a little better outside of your regular working environment.