This morning, I woke up with hives on my arm. I'm not allergic to anything, but after thinking about it for a few minutes, I finally realized that they were stress hives. Between hours of varsity squash and nonstop pre-med classes and long nighttime club meetings and making new friendships while still managing to call home, high stress has taken a physical toll on my body, even while I'm sleeping. So it got me thinking, what can I do too not be a perpetual ball of anxiety and worries? Here are 10 tips for college students like me:
1. Talk about it
I realized today that not everyone wants to hear about your problems, but there are certain people who have to. While it might scare away new college friends to already seem like you're falling apart, calling home or high school friends, talking to your academic advisors, going to a mental health services group on campus, and ranting to your RAs are all good methods to talk it out and get good advice back.
2. Express yourself
If you feel like you're burdening other people with your problems (which you shouldn't in most cases), or talking just isn't enough, it's important to at least write what is stressing you out down in a journal or express it in music or an art piece. Sure, these things take up some of the limited time you have, but your mental health comes first. When you're happy, all the work you do in every aspect of your life is better.
3. Accept it
You've got to understand that the times you feel like you're drowning are just small waves in a big ocean. The beginning of the year, big exams, and competition weeks are going to be tough, but you can recover in the weeks after. If you can get through today, there are better days coming.
4. Prioritize
Why are you so stressed? Maybe you signed up for 10 high-commitment clubs and jobs like me and don't know how to prioritize your time. Limit yourself to a few core activities (after testing them all out to see which you enjoy the most) and do them well. Make to-do lists based on priority levels and feel good about accomplishing tasks. Sure, college is busy, but make sure the things you're busiest with are the things that you are most interested in.
5. Reward yourself with work-free moments
It's better to have highly productive intervals of work followed by true breaks. I make sure to make my meals purely social or peaceful moments, instead of trying to multitask and study as I eat. Lunch with friends between class is an insanely effective mood-lifter. Other than that, make sure to break up your studying with a trip to the gym (or practice if you're a varsity athlete), a walk outside, or a cup of coffee. Make sure your breaks are not on a screen, because your eyes, brain, and body need a break from time to time.
6. Make sure to sleep and eat
Going to college, I thought I would be purely stress eating and napping constantly--the freshman 15 was my biggest fear. I never realized I would forget to eat meals and stay up until 3 for absolutely no reason. The days following sleepless nights feel like hell, and trying to play well at practice is impossible. Your health is crucial in succeeding in academics, athletics, and everything in between.
7. Get extra help
There are so many resources available to you as a college student, many of which you probably don't know about. Mental health services, tutoring services, advisors--people who are there to help you be your best self and get through rough patches in your college career.
8. Stay organized
Spend some time every Sunday night making calendars (I use Google Calendar), to-do lists, and homework lists (check out MyHomework for an amazing planner app). Organization has always been the quality that has kept me from going over the edge of the stress cliff. There are only so many things that you need to accomplish every week--when you write down what they are, they are infinitely easier to conquer.
9. Look ahead to milestones
Once every day, do something fun. Once every week, let loose. Once every month, go on a trip. Making sure there are exciting moments in your life is crucial in keeping your hope levels balanced with your stress levels.
10. But mostly, live in the present
What's the use of worrying about what's due next week when it is keeping you from accomplishing today's tasks? Live for each moment, and see the value and meaning in everything you do. This is what I need to work on the most.
Maintaining healthy stress levels do not mean being stress-free. Stress motivates us and makes us successful. Too much of it, however, makes us miserable and less efficient in the work we do. Your mental and physical health are more important than your grade on a Chem lab--you can always drop a class, but you only get one college experience. Enjoy it!
