mestressmanagement.com

College can be one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. Between the pressure of being away from home for the first time and having to fend for oneself without adult supervision, the academic pressures of exams and assignments and the social pressures of trying to find one’s niche in life, this stress manifests itself in all sorts of different ways. The average student puts on 15lbs of weight in his or her first year of college (the so-called “freshman 15″), can often feel overwhelmed with schedules and classes, and can often seek relief in unhealthy pleasures such as alcohol and drugs. This article aims to help provide some less self-destructive stress management tips for college students.

Stress Management Tip for College Students #1: Stay Healthy

“Healthy body, healthy mind”, the saying goes, and this holds especially true in a stressful situation like college. Eating right and exercising regularly can do wonders for a college student’s state of mind. If that is not enough, you might like to consider yoga. Yoga is the use of posture to reduce stress. Bear in mind, though, that some church-run colleges frown upon the practice due to its Hindu origins. In recent years, some Christian yoga DVDs have come on the market combining yoga disciplines with traditional Christian prayers, so these may be considered more acceptable.

Stress Management Tip for College Students #2: Stay Connected

A major cause of stress for college students is the feeling that they are on their own, compared with the sheltered environment of living with their parents or legal guardians. Whilst it would be foolish to pretend that family life is without pressures (holiday stress management tips deserve an article all to themselves!), keeping in touch with your family can help reduce this feeling of isolation.

There are also new social connections to be forged on the college campus itself. Fraternities, sororities, clubs and societies can help you connect with people who have similar interests to yours. These networks often continue later into adult life and can help you in the future when it comes to finding a job etc.

Stress Management Tip for College Students #3: Stay Organized

Another common stressor at college is the fear of doing too much and losing track of all your classes, exam and assignments. Make sure that you create a detailed schedule and stick to it. Be sure to give yourself plenty of wiggle room when it comes to the timing of each task. You never know when something unexpected is going to crop up and mess with your carefully thought out plans. If you build in extra time, these surprises will cause you far less stress than they would otherwise.