Stress and college seem to go together like eggs and toast, hot chocolate and marshmallows, peas and carrots… you get the picture. College is one of the strangest times in a young person’s life. The place you sleep and live is generally a 5-minute walk from all your classes. Always being so close to homework, projects, and tests can make it difficult for students to draw a line between their work and everything else.  As we approach the mid-mark of the semester, more nerves and stress could be setting in, especially with the looming deadlines for big midterm tests and projects. It’s important to deal with this stress before it accumulates and takes over, becoming an even heavier burden while you’re trying to accomplish your goals.

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Early semester procrastination is starting to catch up, and the next couple weeks will likely be filled with studying and late nights at the library. Midterms are basically just a preview for finals. So, learning how to deal with stress now should make finals easier to conquer. With that being said, there are good ways and bad ways to manage stress. More often than not, college students turn to not-so-great ways to manage stress and relax, such as online shopping or binge drinking. These stress relieving remedies will likely sabotage their success.  Learning how to navigate stress management could be one of the most valuable life lessons college teaches, but it’s often something you’ll have to teach yourself.

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As mentioned above, some common negative ways of coping with stress may include drinking, smoking, over-eating, procrastinating, and losing sleep. While all these methods may help you forget about your work and problems for a little while, they are unhealthy short-term fixes. Taking care of your body is the first step towards becoming a little less stressed. Nourishing your body by eating healthy, drinking sufficient water, and getting some rest can do wonders for stress levels. Though simple, these things tend to have underappreciated impact and can help give you the energy and a healthy mind needed to accomplish your goals.

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If you need a little more stress relief, there are plenty of other great methods to implement for that extra stress fighting kick.  Writing is a great way to reorganize yourself or just get your thoughts out on paper. Journaling can be very therapeutic when dealing with stress. Writing in a planner and making lists can also help get you feel like bigger tasks aren’t so daunting. On the other hand, if you want to get away from what is causing you stress, try physical activity instead. Exercising could involve taking a walk, running around the school’s track, or meditation with yoga. This is a healthier way to forget about stress and problems. Endorphins from exercising are a great stress fighter and make you feel better longer than that beer. Lastly, making time for something you enjoy can take some stress away as well. Whether it be video games, making art, or hanging out with friends, take an hour out of your day to do so. It won’t be the end of the world if you stop studying for an hour.

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Stress is a part of life. In fact, there is such a thing as “good stress.” Good stress can be categorized as motivation or even excitement. You need some stress in your life to get tasks done, though it can cross the line into hazardous territory. It is important to recognize when you’re too stressed and to think about the ways you can cope by using some of the methods mentioned. Recognizing when to get help is also important. College is a busy, stressful, chaotic time and it’s okay to ask for help. There are many places on campus to get help, especially from personal counseling. To get in touch with personal counseling, you can make an appointment by calling or dropping into their office. If seeking help is the best option for you, don’t be afraid to do so! The important thing is that you succeed, and lots of people are always willing to help make that happen.