"I have 2 essays and a test due next week, I feel so overwhelmed," are common sentences us college students think and hear on a daily basis. Transitioning from high school to college is not as simple as others may say it is. You're on your own now, and you have a ton more responsibilities than you did previously. You have to balance school work, a side job (if you choose that route), all while keeping a social life active. Here are some tips and tricks I've learned and practiced over the years to help manage my stress and anxiety:
1. Breathe.
Don't let the overwhelming information and assignments let your head explode. Take a deep breath and think logically. Ask yourself, "What are my assignments?" "What are the due dates?" Before you start to panic, think clearly and objectively. There is a way to get it all done while staying within time frames as long as you keep a level head.
2. Write things down in a planner.
You may think you have a brain with super memory but I guarantee you don't. Keep a planner or a calendar around to write down events, due dates, concerts, assignments, etc. When you are overwhelmed it's easy to accidentally let something slip over your head, and without writing it down you may never remember what it was you had to do. Be safe rather than sorry, you may get a 0 on a big essay because you were too worried on your group project.
3. Select times and days to focus on a certain task.
For example, make Tuesday from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. your essay writing time, Thursdays from 1pm-2pm your math homework time, and so on and so fourth. When you reserve time to get something done it's easier to effectively accomplish your goal. It also puts things in perspective; the essay that you were convinced would take you 7 hours straight to write can actually get done in 2 hours. Now, you have time to hang with friends or go for a run.
4. Stick to the planner.
It's one thing to write things down and give yourself specific times for things, but it's another to actually do them. Motivate yourself, remind yourself why you're in college in the first place and let that fire you up to finish what needs to be done. I get it, school is hard and we all get lazy, but once you do something for 21 days, it becomes a habit. Get yourself into a routine and manage your time wisely.
5. Allow yourself to relax and unwind.
We are ALL hard-working students and we deserve time to de-stress and relax. Don't drown yourself in school work, step back and walk away from the laptop when you need to. Watch some TV, go for a walk around campus, sing a song, lift some weights; do whatever it is you need to do to free your mind for a while. Although school work is the most important part of college, you also need to have a life. Hang with your friends, go out for a fun night. These are the best 4 years of your life, so try not to spend it all stressing about assignments and make memories that will last a lifetime.
