STRESS AWARENESS: How to Manage Stress in College

Are you in college? Maybe you are just starting out as a freshman, in your third year, or working on your master’s degree while balancing a career at the same time. Some college students may be athletes, work part time or full time, or dedicate hours between classes to internships in their field of study. All of these factors can feel overwhelming and bring a lot of stress and uncertainty to many college students. So, if you are in college and can relate to these feelings, you are not alone!

Personally, as a college student and clinical intern, I find myself trying to balance work, school, my internship, and my family. There never seems to be enough time to get everything done. I know that many people also feel the weight of the challenge of balancing everything on our plates. When I feel overwhelmed, I often find myself unmotivated to get tasks done and sometimes I just want to rest and take a break from it all! What helps me is creating checklists and keeping a planner with everything that I need to get done each day. Seeing things written down that I can check off eases some of the anxiety I feel. 

It is important for everyone to find a strategy that works for them to find balance, manage stress, and create some peace within their day. Check out some of the helpful ways to help manage stress below:

TIME MANAGEMENT: Set a schedule for each day. Write out your classes and when each assignment is due during the week. This works best by writing them in a planner, on a wall calendar, or even in your phone. Having these assignments written down, allows you to see what needs to be done and when, so that you can pace yourself and not feel overwhelmed or even procrastinate. Also, marking each task off as it is complete can bring a sense of accomplishment.  

EXERCISE: Keep it simple! Take a walk outside around campus or a local greenway. Take a bike ride! Visit your local fitness center and walk on a treadmill or ride an exercise bike. Exercising doesn’t need to be complicated. Just find something to keep you active and get outside to get a breath of fresh air!

MEDITATION: Did you know there are tons of meditation apps? You can easily find them through the app store on your phone. Also check out YouTube! Listening to meditation apps can help you relax and focus on your breathing. These are great relaxation tools to help relieve stress!

FIND A HOBBY: Do you have something you enjoy? Having a hobby can be a distraction from the everyday hustle. A hobby can be as simple as taking some time to sit and read your favorite book. Or maybe even playing video games, drawing, painting, or playing a game on your phone. It is often a good idea to take a break from your work and do something you enjoy!

Using these simple strategies can help bring relief to the everyday pressures of being a college student! You can start small with incorporating one step into your routine and eventually add more as you are able. It is important to work towards incorporating these strategies into your life. They can reduce the feelings of stress, which if left unmanaged, can lead to anxiety and/or depression. For further tips, Please check out these guides on how to manage college stress from Purdue and UNC- Chapel Hill. 

By: Ashley Pender, therapist intern