By: Stephany Mena Dominguez
College is such an exciting time, filled with various opportunities and new experiences. Though most of the new experiences are fun and enjoyable, many of them will leave you very stressed. Feeling stressed is normal as a college student, and will be especially high to those who are new incoming students. Stress typically has a negative correlation to it, but in reality it could also have some positive influence in your life. If you find yourself feeling stressed over a period of time during your time in college, here are some tips you could follow to manage your stress.
Many college students feel stressed because they have a high workload for classes, they have situations going on in their personal life outside of school, and/or they are adjusting to the new college life. Something that I have noticed throughout my college experience is that a large portion of stress management has to correlate with time management. Classes, being involved in extracurriculars, and potentially having a job while in college can be a lot to handle, this is why it’s important to have a set schedule and routine to follow. Having a planner is so helpful when it comes to organizing your class assignment due dates and any significant dates to remember for events. While using a planner, it could be beneficial to color coordinate your classes, organizations, etc. so you know which dates belong to what. Aside from a planner, creating a time slot schedule with how your weekly routine looks can be helpful with staying on track and ensuring that you complete everything you have to do.
When you have such a busy routine, sometimes you have to remember to take a break and focus on yourself. Having a healthy self-care routine is crucial to manage stress as a college student. This includes getting the adequate hours of sleep, having a balanced diet, having some form of exercise, and taking a break to do activities you enjoy. It can be easy to let yourself go when you’re stressed out and have a lot on your plate, so that’s why you need to occasionally step back for a moment and reflect on the areas you have been abandoning. Being a college student you need to balance various things out, which include social life and academics. If you need to limit your socializing time to focus on yourself, that is completely fine! Take a day off to clean your home, do some painting, cooking, gardening, or anything that might work for you as an outlet to relieve the tension from your everyday life.
A popular form of relieving stress among college students is meditation. Meditating is a way of restoring your calm and inner peace, and can benefit you emotionally, mentally, and physically. Mindful has a step by step guide on how to properly meditate and the benefits that come along with mediation (https://www.mindful.org/how-to-meditate/).
The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at FIU offers workshops on stress management, time management, amongst other topics. They also offer group and individual counseling sessions if you feel the need to have some professional support or if you simply would like to share what you are currently struggling with. Both in person and online sessions are available, though due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, they are working remotely. If you have any questions about CAPS, you can contact the office at 305-348-2277 or 305-919-5305 Monday through Friday 8am-5pm. If you have an emergency during the hours in which the office is closed, contact the 24-hour hotline at 305-348-3000.
Staying healthy, having a positive mind, and minimizing your stress could lead to a happier and more successful life. Hopefully these tips will help you when you feel that you have a lot going on and need to find ways to manage your stress levels!
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