For most college students, stress is a harsh reality that we seem to live with on a near daily basis. Everything from classes, to clubs, to maintaining a social life seems so demanding sometimes, and it is not always easy to handle. Some students fair pretty well as far as maintaining decent stress levels, while others might not. There are also many students, like myself, who are so good at pushing stressful things to the backs of our minds that we do not even register that we are stressed until it all bubbles over at once. Everyone handles (or does not handle) stress in their own ways.
Until recently, I figured, very wrongly, that everyone handles stress in more or less the same way. That is, until I had the opportunity to look at all the different ways people handle stress. I would like to be able to say that the majority of the tactics were not harmful, but in all honesty, some of them could prove to be pretty detrimental in the long run, especially given how often college students seem to stress. Through this activity, I realized that there are usually healthier alternatives to those negative methods. To all of those struggling with stress, I would like to share some of the less positive ways of handling stress, and what better ideas to try instead. The newer method may even be more effective than the old!
DON'T: Binge on sweet, sugary foods.
Instead, try to stay away from stress eating, or go for healthier choices, like fruits and veggies! Also, try to steer clear of not eating, as this can be equally as bad for you.
DON'T: Give into the lack of motivation.
I know better than most that laying in bed all day seems really appealing sometimes, but honestly, putting things off is likely to make you stress even more. When you feel like this, try doing some light exercises, like going for a walk, going to do some sit ups, or anything to get you up and active.
DON'T: Bottle everything up until you can't ignore it anymore.
Go out and talk to someone, get some things done on your list, anything to be proactive in this situation. Allowing things to just remain as they are will not do you any good.
And finally...
DON'T: Continue to allow whatever is stressing you out to stay there.
Sure, some things like homework are going to continue to be a source of stress, but staying on top of things will help keep those levels down. However, if the source of your stress is removable, such as being in a bad situation or being to close to a toxic person, do what you need to do to be able to get out! Nothing is worse than realizing you should have gotten out of a situation after the damage has already been done.
Take it from me, I know these alternatives may not always seem like the easier choice, but they will without a doubt be more beneficial to you in the long run. In the end, what matters most is taking care of yourself. And really, that in and of itself is going to help keep your stress levels under control.
So good luck to all of my fellow college students, or anyone really, who happens to have a lot on their plate at the moment. Keep your heads up. As long as you keep a handle on what life throws at you, things will get better!
