Hot Topics!
College Students & Stress
Are You Overstressed?
Stress is a normal part of everyday life. However, college students face many unique forms of stress, such as experiencing pressure to get good grades, having to juggle schoolwork with other responsibilities, making a decision about future career choice, and developing a variety of new interpersonal relationships. Mild amounts of stress can be beneficial: stress can serve to motivate and stimulate, which may actually improve your performance.
Too much stress, however, begins to interfere with your functioning. Stress levels tend to build over time, and chronic high levels of stress can lead to a condition called overstress. When not managed well, overstress can result in physical illness as well as anxiety and depression. Being overstressed is like running your car past the red line, leaving your toaster stuck in the "on" position, or running a nuclear reactor past maximum power: sooner or later, something will break, burn up, or melt down. Therefore, learning how to manage your stress levels is vital for maintaining your health and overall well-being.
To determine if you are Overstressed, take this Stress Quiz. Scores of 250 or greater are a sign of overstress, although those with a low stress tolerance may be overstressed at levels as low as 150. For tips on managing stress, keep reading!
Tips for Managing Stress
Change Your Actual Stress Load
- Drop a class or reduce your work hours.
- Don't take on any new or extra responsibilities.
- Say "no" more often.
- Need help with saying no? Try the book When I Say No, I Feel Guilty by Manuel Smith, available to be borrowed from the Counseling Services' Self-Help Lending Library.
- Postpone any major changes, such starting a new job, moving to a new apartment, etc.
- Set both long- and short-term goals.
- Develop a schedule to manage your time.
- For assistance with both setting goals and developing a schedule, see the Time Management links below.
Take Care of Your Physical Needs
- Eating Well: Take a multivitamin and mineral preparation; eat more fruits and vegetables; limit alcohol intake.
- Exercise: Aim for at least twenty minutes three times a week; ideally, include both aerobic and strength training.
- Sleep: Set regular sleep times; avoid rapid time changes to your sleep schedule.
- Visit our Hot Topics! page for more on each of the above issues.
Engage in a Relaxation Activity
- Exercise regularly, even just walks around campus (read about the knight striders program for more information as well as a list of local walking routes).
- Read something just for fun (i.e., NOT schoolwork!).
- Do arts and crafts or other hobbies.
- Listen to music, sing, or go dancing.
- Practice yoga and/or meditation (for help getting started with meditation, check out the books and CDs available to be borrowed from the Counseling Services Lending Library or download the Resource List provided below).
- Try a basic breathing strategy: sitting in a comfortable position, count "one" to yourself as you exhale. The next time you exhale, count "two," and so on up to "five." Then begin a new cycle, never counting higher than "five" and counting only when you exhale. Try to do for 10 minutes. Or, try diaphragmatic (deep) breathing--review this handout, Just BREATHE!
See a Physician or Counselor
- Check for hidden illness or physical causes; call Health Services at 245-5736.
- Receive help with stress though counseling and psychotherapy; call Counseling Services at 245-5716.
Go on a Stress Recess!
- The Counseling and Mental Health Center at the University of Texas at Austin offers Stress Recess: Stress Management and Reduction, a wonderful program designed for college students. On their pages, you will find videos to guide you through relaxation strategies, tips on stopping stress both now and in the future, and countless other helpful techniques.
Get More Information
- Stress, Anxiety, and Nerves...Oh my!--Check out this edition of the "Healthy Happenings from the Healthguards" newsletter from December 2008 and their even newer The Stress Issue from December 2009.
- Stress Management: BEFORE You Explode!--Read our because it's your health article on managing stress in college.
- Mindfulness/Meditation Resource List--Download our PDF file with various resources on how to get started with meditation.
- College Students and Stress--Review this Ulifeline.com article contains information on recognizing warning signs and proactive stress management.
- Stress and Your Health--If you are a woman, take a look at this question and answer page from womenshealth.gov, which focuses on stress in women and provides some basic coping strategies.
- Time Management--Check out these great resources from other colleges:
- Managing Your Time--If you are stressed because you are feeling overwhelmed by everything you have to get done, check out this page from Dartmouth. You'll find a Time Management video, a "How Well Do You Plan" quiz, plus various documents and caledars with tips on creating a schedule.
- Setting Goals and Priorities--The University of Florida Counseling Center will help you to identify your short- and long-term goals and then to apply these goals to your weekly scheduling; the issue of procrastination is addressed as well.
- Audio Relaxation Exercises--Finally, if you are one of those people who say, "I just can't relax," click on this link now! Hobart and William Smith Colleges offer two audio relaxation exercises; you can use them directly from their web site or download as MP3 files put on your iPod and use any time you need them.
If you think your stress may be causing anxiety, depression, or other problems, check out this Counseling Services page on Common Mental Health Issues.