If you are a college student, the fall semester is in full swing and the stress is inevitable. Stress is coming from every angle of your life. School, work, extracurricular activities, family, social life, you name it and it can be causing stress in your life. Stress can be good or bad. Good stress can be motivating but bad stress can drive you insane. Here are a few things to remember when you are stressed out this semester.
Just Breathe
In the great words of an All Time Low song, “Take a breath and let the rest come easy”. When you find yourself stressed take a deep breath and relax. Be calm. Do not get yourself overwhelmed to the point where you are incapable of thinking logically. Remember to breathe and everything will be okay.
It is okay to say no
If you find yourself involved in too much or have too much responsibility it is okay to admit you are in over your head. This is healthier to do then having a breakdown in the process. Sometimes we do not know our limit until we have reached it.
GPA is just a number
Do not let your GPA get you stressed. It is just a number. It does not define you. In a few years when you have your career established nobody will really care about your GPA.
Focus on your health
When we are stressed we tend to eat too much or forget to eat in general. It is important to remember to make healthy choices. Use the gym as a place where you can take out your anger and stress in a positive way. We are at a vital point in our life where what we consume will have long term effects on our bodies. Never forget to make your health a priority. Healthy body, healthy mind.
Everything will be okay
One of my favorite John Lennon quotes is “Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end”. If it feels like your life is falling apart at the moment, accept that everything will be okay. It must not be the end if things are not okay. Stay positive because you are doing your best.
Break big tasks into smaller portions
It is easy to get overwhelmed when you have a long “to do” list for the week or weekend. Break up your assignments so that you plan on doing the difficult tasks at a time when your brain is nice and alert and the “mindless” work to do when you may get distracted. Do not save all the difficult tasks for last minute. Divide your work onto multiple days to prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed.
Schedule play time into every day
This is so important because college is not just all work and no play. It is important to let loose and have fun with your friends. Once a day you should make sure you have some “me” time. This time can be doing whatever makes you relaxed. Personally, I love listening to music, running, watching Netflix, writing and cooking. I make "me time" a priority.
Do everything in moderation
With play time comes the responsibility of moderation. It is easy to get side tracked. One episode leads to another and soon enough its 4am and the Netflix season is over and no school work has been completed. Realize that moderation is the key to a healthy and balance life.
Realize that it is okay not to be great at everything
We fail. It’s okay. We are not supposed to be great at everything. We do not have to get 100% in everything. We have to cut ourselves some slack every once in a while. As long as you are doing your best, there is not must else you can do.
Acknowledge your weaknesses and seek out help
A wise woman once told me (hey mom) “If you do not ask, the answer will always be no”. If you are struggling with something, do not be afraid to ask for help. Acknowledge your weaknesses and ask people for help.
Remember you always have options
If life is not going as you thought, you always have options. Let’s say you realize the major you picked is not the right fit for you. There are so many possibilities out there, all you have to do is look.
Get plenty of sleep
No one works well sleep deprived. Make sure you are getting enough sleep so that you can remain focused throughout the day. In the words of the ZzzQuil commercial, “sleep is a beautiful thing”.
I find it beneficial to keep these things in mind when I am stressed out. These simple reminders are easy to forget in times of stress. I find myself calling my mom when I am stressed out and I owe all of the insights I shared in this article to her. My mom helps me calm down on those stressful days. It is so easy to get overwhelmed and hopefully this list will help you remember that life is all about taking one day at a time. Keep your end goal in mind and I promise you everything will be okay.
