How to handle Stress during College Life

Stress:

Stress is simply a reaction to a stimulus that disturbs our physical or mental equilibrium. In other words, it's an omnipresent part of life. A stressful event can trigger the “fight-or-flight” response, causing hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol to surge through the body.

College students face a host of stresses. University-level homework may be more challenging (and plentiful!) than anything you've ever faced before, and final exams can bring a whole new meaning to the term 'crunch time.' The difficulties also don't typically end with academics. Romance and social lives can be as much a source of anxiety as they are of fun, and many students struggle to stay on top of the newfound freedoms of living away from home, from cooking to laundry to managing a budget.

Time:

This will probably your biggest source of stress. School work may not be your favourite thing to do, but is a must-do in order to graduate from college! For every hour of lecture per week (equivalent to one unit), you should set aside 2-3 hours to study outside of classroom. While studying, eliminate distractions so that you can stay focused. Pick a place that you are comfortable being at, whether it's in the library, a coffee shop, or the student lounge. If studying for 2-3 hours per unit is not realistic for you, try to schedule yourself with a combination of some less challenging courses with difficult ones in the same quarter/semester. This will allow you to avoid feeling overloaded. Of course, if you enjoy a particular subject, studying for it won't feel like an obligation. So, pick classes that interest you!

Juggling between your social niches and school work can be a challenge, but spending all you effort only on school work could be draining. Make use of the college environment to find a work-life balance. Being in college is the best time and setting for you to build life-long relationships, as well as expand your social and professional networks. Use social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and Tumblr. Join social groups and professional groups; attend activities and have fun at the same time. This will allow you to relax and see things in the real world. Don't forget to network for success! Manage a professional profile on LinkedIn and collect contacts. It's never too early to expand the horizon of unlimited possibilities. More importantly, learn work-life balance.

Goals:

When you try to reach too many challenging goals at once, it can cause anxiety and even a feeling of helplessness when you encounter obstacles. Goals can vary depending on situations. How about we start with what you need to work on; set goals that are challenging yet attainable. For example, if you failed a class last quarter, you know exactly what we need to do this quarter -- pass all classes; otherwise, academic probation! So how do you do this? The goals for this quarter can be: attend classes, set time to study every week, check in with professors and TAs every few weeks about our progress and ask questions. Making small steps to succeed can help reduce your fear of failing.

Develop:

Some stress will be unavoidable, so it's important to develop healthy ways to deal with it. Popular options include athletic exercise, meditation or simple breathing exercises. Find something that works for you and incorporate it into your routines. If needed, pay a visit to the counseling office. Every school has one open to students who need the support. Sometimes, stress can be your motivation. Stay positive!

 It's a smart choice to live on campus the first year, just so you don't have to spend energy and time managing such logistics. However, if financial constraints eventually becomes a source of stress, try using free assistance, such as Mint.com to help monitor your expense, and make adjustments accordingly.