If you're a college student, chances are you're experiencing some kind of stress. Loads of coursework is dumped on us every week and were expected to keep up while maintaining our own personal lives too.
Sometimes it can all get overwhelming. Some people consider dropping out. Some have mental breakdowns.
Here is some advice on how to manage the stress of college. These are tips I'm trying to follow myself, so this list can hopefully be a reminder to us all to manage our stress rather than drown in it.
1. Take breaks
I know it can seem like you have a million things to do at once and you're wasting time by taking a break, but breaks are important for both your mental health and physical health.
I know I've been in situations where I've completely forgotten to eat that day because I was so engrossed in homework. Yes, getting a good grade is important, but not starving is even more important.
Make sure to have at least an hour to give your mind a break. You can practice self-care in any way you see fit.
Usually, I find that when I get stuck on something and focus on it for hours, taking a break and putting my mind to something else for a while helps immensely. When I get back to the original problem, my freshly-rested mind will find a solution that my exhausted mind couldn't.
2. Schedule your time
If you have a day that's super packed with events and responsibilities, making a to-do list helps tremendously.
But the key is to not get overwhelmed by looking at the entire to-do list. When you're doing one task, don't be focused on the ten other ones that come afterward. Just focus on what comes next and make sure you're prepared for that. Then when that's done, focus on the next one and nothing else, and so on.
3. Communication, communication, communication
If you're struggling and are stressed out about a class, chances are you're not the only one.
I have an especially stressful class this semester and joining a group chat with all of my classmates in it has really helped. If I'm confused about something, I can just ask everyone and they give advice.
Most of the time I find that the other people in the class are also confused and struggling. It's nice to know I'm not alone and that there are people who can help out.
I would suggest having some sort of communication with at least a couple of your classmates. It doesn't hurt to reach out. The worst they can do is not respond.
4. Counseling
Contrary to a popular belief, therapy is not only for the mentally ill. If you feel like you're drowning in all your responsibilities and the weight of it all is crushing you, it can help to talk it out with someone.
It's great to go to friends and family, but if you're afraid of being a burden on them or about feeling like you're complaining too much, it can be really useful to talk out your problems with a third party that doesn't have any biases about you.
Many colleges have their own counselors. At UCF, counseling is paid for by your tuition. It's a great service and you should utilize it if you need it.