How best to handle stress

A common problem that college students deal with is stress. Stress can be helpful, it can provide energy to meet deadlines, solve problems and reach goals. Unfortunately, stress can also be harmful. When someone experiences stress for long periods of time or a level of stress that is not equal to the situation, he or she can suffer from physical problems like headaches, loss of appetite or difficulty sleeping. Prolonged stress can also lead to depression and fatigue.

Fortunately, there are many things that students can do to help handle stress. An important way to handle stress is to establish habits that promote success.

One habit that is helpful is to find a good place to study. Studying is an important part of college and requires a lot of attention. Finding a quiet place that is free from distraction can help a student get into a good study routine. Using a quiet study place such as the library can help you focus on the task at hand. Another good habit is to develop positive time management skills. A common rule for studying is to spend 2 hours studying for each hour spent in class. This may seem like a lot, but if you break it up into smaller portions like a half hour per class each day, it will not seem so daunting. It is important to remember to take breaks when you study. Most people can stay focused on a topic for about 90 minutes. If you try to focus on a subject much longer you are liable to forget what you were studying, or have to reread the same paragraph 2 or 3 times.

Another way to handle stress is to develop healthy living habits. Healthy habits can prevent stress from controlling your life. Eating healthy is one habit that everyone should practice. Eating a well balanced and healthy diet can provide you with energy to make it through your day and also help prevent you from getting sick. Staying healthy can keep you on task and on time. In addition to healthy eating, regular exercise can be extremely helpful in handling stress. Stress can make you feel tense, and exercising can help alleviate some of that nervous energy and allow you to maintain focus on your goal of doing well in school.

As I talked about last week sleep is an extremely important part of our lives and getting enough sleep can also help in the fight against stress. Practicing good sleep hygiene and getting a good night’s rest will help you be ready tackle big projects when they come up. Lastly, remember to take time to relax. Being a student is hard work, and you need to take time to enjoy the time at college as well. Finding time to relax can help you be prepared when you have to stay focused on work.



This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or disorder. Nor is it intended to replace a consultation with a mental health provider.