The VOICE
We’ve all felt it. That feeling in the pit of your stomach as you think about all of the assignments and tests that you have this time of the year. In addition to the research papers and pop quizzes, you’ve got to deal with family, friends, and work. Sometimes it feels like things pile on so quickly, you hardly have time to think.
Stress influences people differently. Some believe that a little stress makes them more focused on their task. Yet stress consumes others, who often find it difficult to deal with.
We’ve found some great ways to help deal with this stressful time. First, breathe. Try to understand that no matter how hard it seems, you will make it through this. Try to take at least twenty minutes a day to do something that you genuinely enjoy whether it is reading a book that you have chosen, or listening to your favorite music to calm your nerves.
Next, make a list of all of the things that you have to get done, then prioritize this list. The items at the top of the list will be the items you need to work on first. Let those items at the bottom of the list slide; you will feel much better without so much on your plate.
Ask yourself why you’re feeling so much stress. It may be because you put off things that you have to do until the last minute. If this is the case then try to change what you can control in the situation.
There are a few things that you should try to avoid if you are feeling stretched too thin. Try to deal with responsibilities as they come, without focusing on everything all at once. Also, try to avoid escaping from your problems through drugs and alcohol. It may take your mind off of the stress for a little while, but it will do nothing to truly relieve your nerves.
Be careful before you get yourself too worked up. Some believe that stress can lead to emotional or physical fatigue. Stress can raise your blood pressure, and can increase your heart rate. In fact, constant stress over a long period of time can lead to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, loss of appetite, sleep deprivation, and in some cases depression and suicide.
If you feel that stress is taking a toll on you that you cannot control, visit our University’s Counseling Center. There you will be able to talk to someone about the things you are going through. If you don’t feel like coming to the school then talk to your friends and family. They are the people who will always love you.
The bottom line is that, although stress seems to be a part of the territory of being a college student, there are ways you can learn to deal with stress and even make it work for you.
How do you know if you’re living under a healthy amount of stress? Take a free stress test online. We did, and we’re convinced we need a vacation.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Oct 24 2003. Filed under Our Voice.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
