Student life is a challenge.
Entering a college or university, you meet the first stress: tons of assignments, projects, and other demands to accomplish.
The ability to focus, remember information, organize a day, learn how to communicate with new people, and make the right decisions in different situations – all these skills are time- and energy-consuming to develop.
This pressure leads to stress and nervous breakdown with many negative consequences: health problems, chronic disease exacerbation, procrastination, apathy to learning and interacting with peers, etc.
When it comes to tests, exams, or research paper writing, a student becomes more sensitive and vulnerable: An information flow to deal with, requirements, and deadlines can deflate everyone.
Are there ways to help students? How can you deal with stress in college? Is there any chance to reduce the pressure from exams and numerous college assignments?
Below are seven steps to help you:
1. Self-Discipline
For students, it's hard to resist the temptation of going to the devil and trying everything college life has for them: new friends, parties, so-called "sex, drugs, rock'n'roll," and so on. And when it comes to academic assignments, it suddenly hits them: deadlines! What's worse, some students postpone the learning process until the last night, which they believe will be enough to complete all the assignments and get high grades.
A lifehack for all students reading this:
Stop it! Self-discipline is essential. Learn time management and remember: Study first and party afterward. No one will die if you spend time writing your essay and join that cool wing-ding a bit later. Thanks to the digital era and the dozens of writing tools it provides, it's much easier to study now.
2. Everyday Walks
Okay, far from all students are party-goers. Let's say you study hard, complete all tasks, are ready to help others, spend hours in libraries, and get A's for every project. And yet, you won't avoid stress when the time comes to write essays, craft research papers, and pass exams.
Now, it's not about time but a physical condition.
Nothing good is waiting for those spending all the time indoors. Both physical and mental health suffer: A brain needs oxygen to work and think clearly, and it won't be able to process information if you do not give it rest. So, walk every day, and you will see how easier the learning process will become.
3. Healthy Sleep
Human nature is that we should sleep 6-8 hours at night to stay strong and full of energy for new achievements. To avoid stress, exhaustion, and burnout, don't study and don't spend all night lying at parties if you have a class or an exam in the morning.
4. Communication
When you feel stressed, don't stay alone. Meet friends, tell them what you experience, and discuss your worries. If they study at the same college and have the same tasks as you, it will be easier to deal with stress:
You'll see you are not alone with your problems.
Moreover, you can help each other and do all the tasks together when possible.
5. Positive Thinking
It is a philosophical rather than practical tip, but it works.
Do not consider essays, tests, and exams anything awful or preventing you from living life to the fullest. Think of positive things they bring:
You will learn something new, improve your writing skills, become more disciplined and concentrated, etc.
6. Time Management
Easier say than do, but the basics of time management are must-know for students craving success and overall well-being.
Time management is a set of skills like patience, focus, organization, prioritization, planning, and others. It requires resources to master, but it's worth it.
To start, try to distinguish the exact time for study. Let it be 2-3 hours per day but on a regular basis. It might be challenging at first, especially if you are a party-goer, a social media addict, or an active Netflix watcher. Show your willpower, prove you can do that, and you will be surprised how much time you have to deal with everything!
7. Sports
Physical exercises help control stress hormones in our bodies. So there's no reason to ignore fitness and sports activities in college or university.
Even one hour a week in a gym can boost your mood and make you healthier. You will feel the strength and energy to deal with any given task.
Have no access to a gym? Add 15-20 minutes of exercise to your daily to-do list. Choose those available without hard-to-reach equipment: Squats, push-ups, plank, or light stretching will be a great start!
___________________________________________________
Student life may seem chaotic and can get stressful. You can handle that. Keep an eye on your condition to prevent fatigue, and don't ignore the tiny steps able to help you by far!