Look, we get it. Adulting is stressful and unfortunately, part of the process of being an adult is putting yourself through college, and all the stresses and anxieties that go with it. Fortunately, there are a veritable plethora of ways that you can de-stress while struggling as a college student.
- Zzzzzzzzzzz
If you’re a college student, chances are high that you’re burning the candle at both ends and down the middle. But it’s really not helping your stress levels. To say nothing of your school performance, your health will inevitably begin to suffer if you don’t rest regularly. The occasional all-nighter doesn’t hurt, but doing it consistently will eventually have consequences. We know it’s hard, but try to set aside enough time to sleep. Your anxiety will thank us.
- Diet
The old myth that college students survive on nothing but ramen noodles isn’t exactly true, but it also isn’t exactly false, either. Chances are good that you’re not fortifying yourself with the right nutrients and vitamins to keep you going. Instead, you may be opting for quick, albeit unhealthy options to pick you back up. It’s crucial that you try to eat as healthy as you can while working through this, as a steady diet of unhealthy food will only make you feel worse and worse as time goes by.
- Exercise
We know, we know. You’re stressed, you’re exhausted, and the last thing you feel like doing is moving around even more. But trust us, this is a good thing. If it’s an activity you enjoy, try to get out for about twenty minutes a day and get the blood pumping. With the rush of endorphins, you’re bound to start feeling a little less tense in no time.
- Emotional Support
Do NOT bottle up your tension and frustration. It just bursts to the surface with more rage than Coke and Mentos. Instead, rely on a close family member or a trusted friend to lend an ear and allow you to vent away from your frustrations. Sure, they probably can’t actually help you with about 95% of your troubles, but you’d be surprised how much better you’ll feel just getting it off your chest.
- Passions of Life
Your schedule is now filled to the brim with tests and exams, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spare an hour or so a day for your hobbies. College is the stepping stone toward fulfillment of life and the pocket. Hobbies are what fulfills the soul and it’s important to stay connected to them. Heck, there are even websites that are dedicated to helping you decide what your ideal pastime is.
- Overload! Danger! Danger!
We know that college is demanding, but it’s not so demanding that you need to overwhelm yourself with volume in assignments and textbooks. Even if that stuff is mandatory, learn to say no to extracurricular activities when you know you’ve already got too much going on. You need to take care of yourself and your own projects first.
- Stay Away from Alcohol
It may be tempting to relax after a hard day with a drink or two but warned, your anxieties don’t just go away with the buzz of the hard stuff. In fact, they flood back even harder afterward. If you’ve already begun to follow this habit and start to feel anxious at the idea of cutting back, you may have developed a dependency on it. The signs of alcoholism are usually subtle, often resembling addiction, and when noticed, it’s vital to seek help immediately.
- Safe Space
If you’re unfortunate enough to have to deal with a roommate, then this may become crucial to you. Set up a space of quiet and solitude where you and your thoughts can just breathe. Whether it’s a single desk of your own or a special secret spot at the local library, this little safe haven may be the saving grace of your sanity at your busiest.
- Get Organized
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how common of a problem it actually is. Too many people are too scattered, in more ways than one. They lose track of important assignments or books, and then on the day of the big event, they go into panic mode when they can’t find anything. This can easily be avoided by just keeping careful track of where you put everything. It’ll also save you a ton of stress in the process.
- Learn Calming Techniques
These can be a great fallback when you’re overwhelmed. Maybe it’s a special breathing technique you use to relax, or a stress-ball you keep in your backpack for just such an occasion. Whatever the method you use, make sure that it’s something calming and grounding, designed to keep you focused and remind you that this too shall pass.
Stress is a sad fact of life, but it can be worked around. Learn healthy hacks to keep stress at bay or else banish it quickly, even in the midst of a class. College is stressful, but that doesn’t mean the stress has to rule you.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.