College is supposed to be the best time of your life. But it also can be highly stressful at times! If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all your tests, papers, and projects, use some of these tips to keep your stress in check.
1. Get Enough Sleep
In college, you can easily stay up until 2 a.m. or later and have to wake up the next day for an early class. And while you might think you can make up for lost sleep on the weekends, all that lack of sleep adds up and leaves you feeling stressed and anxious.
Lack of sleep can lead to other issues like depression, weight gain, and high blood pressure. If you cannot stop yourself from staying up late, schedule your classes to start later in the day.
2. Eat Right
Eating a consistent diet of junk (pizza, top ramen, and macaroni and cheese, for example) can leave you feeling sluggish and sick. This can enhance your stress!
To feel better and keep your stress level in check, be sure to incorporate vegetables, whole grains, and plenty of water into your diet.
3. Get Help When Needed
If you’re overwhelmed by your workload, remember that you don’t have to feel alone. Ask for help from a teacher or a friend.
Start a study group to split up the notes for a test. Work with a tutor or your academic advisor to set up a study schedule. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
4. Spend Time Focused On Your Hobbies
Once you got to college, did it feel like all your time was sucked up by classes and studying? It’s certainly important to study and work hard, but you also need to make time for the things you love to do.
If you’re a reader, carve out time in your schedule to read at least a few times a week. No matter what your passion is, spending some time with it on a regular basis will help keep your stress level in check.
5. Have Social Time
Make sure you are spending time with your friends. Don’t spend so much time with your nose in a book that you forget to have social interactions.
The relationships you form in college will likely be the most important in your life. Set a weekly coffee or movie date with a friend, and be sure to call your parents every once in a while as well.
6. Set Aside Time To Exercise
When you feel stressed, you might want nothing more than to lie on your couch and watch Netflix for hours at a time. But you’ll feel a lot better if you get moving.
It has been proven in study after study that people who exercise regularly are less stressed. If you live in a nice area, try to get outside for your exercise. The fresh air will help you remain calm.
7. Learn When To Say “No”
You’ll get lots of invitations in college. Both social time and academic time are important to your college career, but it’s equally important to learn when to say no.
If you’re stressed and you already have things that need to finish tonight, say no to the invitation to watch a movie on the quad. It’s even ok to say no to a friend who just wants to hang out. You have to take some time for yourself every once in a while.
Stress is inevitable in college. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn to minimize it. Follow these tips to keep your stress levels as low as possible so you can get the most out of your time in college.
Photo by CollegeDegrees360 