College is a very high-stress environment that often invokes anxiety in students. Thousands of college students struggle with crippling anxiety and stress on a day to day basis. This anxiety sometimes limits the student's ability to perform well and function. Here are ten simple ways I have found useful to reduce my anxiety in college.
1. Stay organized.
It is very easy to get overwhelmed and stressed, but being organized helps with a lot of that. A way in which I help organize myself is using a planner. If I write down everything I have to do and write down when assignments are due ahead of time, I am less likely to get overwhelmed.
2. Get a good night's sleep.
No one feels well when they are tired. Fatigue often contributes to those who suffer from anxiety. In college, it is hard to balance time between working and sleeping. However, if you manage your time accordingly, you can get a good night's sleep each night. This will give you energy to complete your tasks the next day, which will lead you to go to bed earlier because you will not have to do your work at night that you have previously put off.
3. Practice mindfulness.
College is a very fast paced environment, where students are often rushing from class to class or juggling social life and clubs. It is sometimes hard to live in the moment and just pause from all of the stress. Practicing mindfulness is useful, because it can help you be more self-reflective and present. If you take a minute to really think about where you are and focus on what you are doing, you will often feel calmer. You will find yourself really thinking about the present moment instead of worrying about the future.
4. Exercise.
It is often difficult in college to find time to be active. What I have found is that exercising does not always mean getting dressed and going to the gym. Going on a couple walks per day can give you the exercise your body needs and can release some of your stress. Whenever I walk, I feel that I tend to forget about all of my responsibilities and try to just relax.
5. Eat well.
Time is another issue when it comes to eating well. Students often skip meals, or have unhealthy meals when they do have meals. Having a well-balanced, nutritious diet can really help student's overall health, which then affects their anxiety. If you are hungry and tired, you will most likely feel agitated and anxious. If you regularly eat nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day, your blood sugar levels will most likely stay stable and you will most likely feel better.
6. Practice meditation and breathing techniques.
Something I do when I am feeling overly stressed or anxious is taking a minute to take a deep breath, while relaxing my whole body. Often times when we are stressed or anxious we do not realize that we are actually hyperventilating, which is then making us more anxious. If we take the time to slow down our breathing and relax our bodies, the adrenaline level will most likely decrease. Also, guided meditation is an excellent way to reduce anxiety and stress. There are several iPhone apps I have found, such as the "Calm" app that contain 5 minute meditation tapes.
7. Try to have an optimistic outlook.
Whenever I am feeling anxious about something, I often ask myself, 'What is the worst that will happen?' Often, when we are having anxiety over something such as an exam, or a job interview, we are worrying about the worst case scenario that will happen. However, if we really think about the worst case scenario in situations, we will often feel comforted, because we will realize that the worst thing often is not that bad.
