Five Ways to Overcome Stress in College

College can be overwhelming. You are living away from home, often for the first time and often with someone you don’t know, in a lively community where you are constantly surrounded by people. There are demands to work hard, look hot, make friends, and, above all, to do well. Many students find the stresses of college to be more than they can handle. They end up quitting, and often they rue this choice for the rest of their years. If you find yourself feeling stressed out and overwhelmed, here are some suggestions to restore balance to your life:

1. Exercise. It’s a cliche by now, but it’s a cliche for a reason. Exercise is the biggest stress buster. Even if you can only manage a brisk walk several times a week, that will be a big help. If you can find a bike to ride or someone to play tennis with, even better. The more you exercise, the better you will feel. You will find your stress level is dramatically decreased and you will sleep better, too.

2. Assemble a study group. If you’re stressed about a course, gather some other students and form a study group. Four or five others to go over the material once a week should do it. Even the most stubborn problem can be conquered with other minds on the matter. And don’t underestimate your contribution: You have things to offer, too, concepts they couldn’t get from the lecture or the text that came easily to you.

3. Eat balanced meals. If you eat in the dining hall, choose your foods carefully. Make sure you consume plenty of vegetables (e.g., leafy greens, carrots), protein, and complex carbohydrates (brown rice, bran muffins, oatmeal, corn meal). Pick up a nutrition paperback to learn about which foods are best for you. If you live off campus and have a kitchen, prepare quick, simple meals like rice and beans, sandwiches, pasta, stir fry, and salads with cheese and nuts. Once a week, cook something big that you can keep in the fridge and heat up-maybe a casserole or a soup. Try to limit how much sugar you eat. And don’t let yourself get too hungry. Hunger mimics stress, making you feel nervous and ungrounded. Eating well, on the other hand, will help you feel centered and ready for anything.

4. Ask for help. If you are having trouble with a course, if your course load is overwhelming, or if you find you feel anxious and nervous much of the time, seek help from your advisor. Don’t try and go it alone if you don’t feel right. You (and maybe your family) are paying plenty of money for college; you want to have a positive experience. Your advisor will have suggestions, maybe that you drop a course and add something different, or take fewer credits. If speaking with your advisor doesn’t lessen your stress level, consult a counselor or therapist.

5. Make sure you are having fun. College is supposed to be one of the best times in your life. Don’t waste these years being unhappy and overwhelmed. Go out with your friends. See a movie or a show. Go to a museum. Have some friends over for a board game or a game of cards. Kicking around with friends is a surefire antidote to stress. And talk about the stress you’re feeling. You’ll be happy to learn that many of your friends feel the same thing.

College can be a lot to handle. But your stress level will abate if you are careful to take good care of yourself. Eat three meals a day, spend time with your friends, keep your workload at a reasonable level, and make sure you get enough sleep. If you still don’t feel well, get help. It may be just a matter of a meeting or two with your advisor or a therapist to get you feeling like yourself again.

Hilary Sloane is a staff writer for the American Educational Guidance Center. She writes on online colleges, accelerated degree programs, and online college doctoral programs.

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