As the fall semester is back in full swing, assignments start to roll in and the one thing that you didn't miss is back in action: stress.
Stress is inevitable in college, and if someone told you otherwise, they lied.
I wish I could sit here and tell you that there are so many ways to avoid being stressed that actually work but I can't do that. Sure, there are preventable measures such as staying organized with due dates, and following a study schedule, but that won't ever stop the overwhelming feeling of "I can't do this anymore."
Let me guess, you've been assigned a ton of homework, on top of balancing studying, working, maintaining a social life, and working out (if you're one of those really dedicated college students or athletes). You've probably felt this emotional roller coaster of stress so much in your college career that you can't keep track of it. If you're a freshman, and this is your first time experiencing stress at this level, chances are you're really rattled.
People deal with stress in so many ways! Some people procrastinate (me), some people stress eat (also me), and some people rise to the occasion and crank out all of their sh*t on their to-do list (I wish this was me). People deal with stress in healthy ways and unhealthy ways, and sometimes a combination of both.I want to tell you that however you choose to deal with your stress is your own prerogative.
My one piece of advice for you when it comes to handling stress is to not forget about yourself.
You're probably wondering what I mean by that. Well, truthfully when it comes to balancing all of your different obligations you tend to stop doing the little things for yourself that make you happy. You stop spending as much time with your friends, or you skip the gym a few times to try to play catch-up on your workload. Forgetting to take care of yourself can come in various forms.
The things that you consider to be important now, such as homework, won't really matter when you're 30 years old. That doesn't mean you can be a flake and not do it, it just means that not doing so well on one homework assignment won't jeopardize your entire future. The stress of trying to accomplish that one thing on your list sometimes isn't worth it.
This isn't me telling you that you shouldn't make sacrifices to cope with your stress because life doesn't quite work that way. This is me telling you that whenever your stress seems to be a bit much, once in a while you should just remove yourself from whatever is stressing you out (temporarily of course) and do something for yourself.
Go on that run. Watch that movie with your friends. Buy that cute sweater you've been eyeing. I don't care what you do, as long as you:
From one stressed out college kid to the next.
