Finding independence is one of the many advantages of college life, but it also comes with its fair share of stress. Living away from home, financial problems, study goals, countless essay writing tasks, and the coronavirus pandemic’s impact can all lead to long-term stress in college students. Although, it is now easier for college students to buy essays online that will help reduce the stress from homework and research.
College life can be an exciting time but also a stressful one. Stress in college is inevitable. About 80% of students in college frequently experience stress. And, according to experts, college stress is also a contributing factor to the failure or poor academic performance of one in three students. This means that long-term stress can negatively affect college students’ grades, relationships, and mental and physical health.
CAUSES OF STRESS IN COLLEGE
According to a report by Forbes, college kids are heading back to campus anxious, depressed, and burnt out. And that begs the question, what are the causes of stress in college?
College students experience stress as a result of various factors. In a publication by the American Psychological Association, they revealed that teenagers’ stress level in college is similar to that of adults. This only indicates that college students are traumatized on a significant level. About 30% of them are characterized by depression and sadness due to overwhelming circumstances exceeding their coping capacity.
Another research indicated that school activities give rise to stress and cause them to perform poorly and also affect their mental state. Some notable causes of college stress include:
- Financial setbacks
- Post-Graduation plans
- Affinity issues
Financial setbacks
Most students find it hard to save enough money to run their academic programs or settle their debts. This can cause stress, thereby hurting their academic performance.
Post-Graduation Plans
It is common for students to face problems like feeling insecure about what to do after graduation. This can make you feel mentally and emotionally drained when making decisions on the next phase of your life.
Affinity Issues
Forming new relationships is a part of college life, and students might have issues maintaining them. Although these connections help relieve stress, when they go awry, they can lead to long-term stress, which affects the grades and health of the students.
HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS IN COLLEGE
Stress relief mechanisms differ for everyone, but if you feel like your brain is crashing due to stress, dont freak out. Below are some hacks to help you keep your sanity and maintain good health.
REGULAR EXERCISE
Regular exercise is a healthy way to blow off or relieve stress and get relaxed.
Yoga is a form of exercise that provides excellent relaxation and total health benefits for college students. It can be a fun way to relax with your friends, and classes are offered in many college gyms.
In general, exercising is one of the best ways to fight stress. Even if you can only exercise for a few minutes, regular exercising can lift your mood, release tension and keep your body healthy.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP
As a college student, you might find it challenging to get enough sleep due to late night-outs, busy schedules, or stress. However, if you want to stay healthy, ensure to be committed to getting 8 hours of sleep a day.
Maintaining a sleep routine is vital to mental health and stress management. Stress can interrupt your sleep pattern, so try other relaxation methods like Yoga before going to bed. Also, if you study in the same room you sleep in, be sure to cover books and study desk.
EAT WELL
Junk and fast food might be more convenient, plentiful, and cheap, but they dont set you up to do your best. Keeping your apartment stocked with fresh fruits and veggies and proteinous snacks helps you maintain a healthy diet. Also, be sure that your main meals are balanced and healthy.
Stimulants like caffeine may help you stay awake if you are the type to pull all-nighters, but putting off your sleep will result in an energy crash which might cause a greater level of stress. Also, avoid relaxing with alcohol because any unrelieved stress you are experiencing will come flooding back after your buzz.
You may not know, but maintaining a healthy diet can boost your brainpower. It can also serve as a stress management routine and a study aid.
GET ORGANIZED
Many college students find it hard to go from an ample parenting structure to create their structure. However, if you live away from home, it is crucial to stay organized to avoid struggling to keep up.
Litter can cause stress and decrease productivity. Many college students live in cluttered rooms, and messy rooms harm students’ academic performance. It is best to limit or reduce stress by keeping a small, comfortable study area free of clutter and other distractions.
Create a quiet space to help you focus and concentrate. If your roommate is ever-present or noisy, find a spot in a library or a coffee shop to visit and get things done frequently, for example, finish your essay papers or reading books for the next class. You can also create your schedule. It helps maintain self-discipline and keep things organized.
It can help you build a positive relationship with your roommate. Being organized also helps students with preparations for tests and encourages more studying. Try getting rid of clutter own keeping things organized. Its worth the effort.
Other stress-coping strategies include listening to music and taking a break from social media. This can help you relax and stop comparing your achievements to that of other students. It is an effective way to manage time because people tend to experience lots of stress whenever they are running out of time. Taking calming breaths, finding support, or talking to someone also helps students deal with college stress.
Also, learn how to train your brain and mindset towards more optimism and positive thinking. Optimists are known to experience better situations in their lives because optimism can lead to better health, better relationships, and of course, better grades.
However, if you have tried the above stress-relieving methods but cant conquer stress, visiting your GP to check that your symptoms are indeed stress-related is a good idea.