Just three months ago, you were standing on stage, receiving your high
school diploma. The thrill of completing
your high school education seems like a distant memory, now that you are
completing your first month at college.
While you were excited about starting classes, you never anticipated the
amount of stress you would encounter. At
times, you might feel as if you will be buried alive by stress.
You should know that the feeling of being stressed out is nothing
unusual for a college student. To begin
with, it might be your first time away from home. You miss your parents, your brothers and
sisters, your friends. You miss the
comfort of the family dwelling, the commemoration of birthdays and other
special events. You might even miss the
extra-curricular activities you enjoyed at your high school.
There is the stress of trying to do well in academically challenging
college classes. You might feel
overwhelmed by the amount of reading you have to do. You might not have developed strong study
skills in high school, leading to greater stress at college. You may even find it difficult finding a
place to study—especially if you’re not used to spending long periods of time
in the library.
You might also be dealing with the
stress of having to live with roommates for the first time. Your roommates might not share your values,
your interests, or even your sleeping patterns.
If you have more than one roommate, you might feel outnumbered. If you were an only child, you might not be
used to the stress involved in sharing a bathroom or a common study area.
Also, you might be dealing with the stress of your first serious
relationship. You might not know how to
handle conflict effectively. And you
might be wondering whether you have become too serious too soon with your
boyfriend or girlfriend. Also, finding
the time to spend together can be a real challenge, given all the other demands
on your time.
You might also be stressed out by the part-time job you have to work in
order to support your studies. Your
duties might be demanding, and the hours you have to put in may be interfering
with your sleep. You might also be
dealing with the stress of having to get along with difficult co-workers.
There is no way to eliminate all the stress involved in attending
college. This time of your life will be
inherently stressful, no matter how you try to streamline your schedule. However, there are some effective techniques
you can use to reduce your stress level so that the pressures do not seem so
overwhelming.
To begin with, you need to develop effective time management
techniques. This means creating a
schedule and sticking with it. Be sure
to build some relaxation time into your schedule. That way, you can ensure that you are getting
an appropriate amount of rest and exercise.
One thing that can add to your stress level is weight gain. College is famous for the “Freshman 15,” or
adding 15 pounds to one’s frame during the first year of classes. In order to combat this, try to eliminate
unhealthy snacks such as potato chips and cookies. Try to limit your diet to lean meats and
fish, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Try whenever possible to avoid eating at parties. And don’t overindulge in alcohol, which can
add an appreciable amount of weight. In
this way, you can try to protect yourself against excessive weight gain.
College is one of the most memorable periods in anyone’s life. The knowledge you gain can be
incredible. You can forge friendships
which will last a lifetime. You might
find your mate, or develop a life-long hobby.
And yet, college is a time fraught with tension. You have to please your professors, your
roommates, your friends, and employers.
You have to take on adult responsibilities for the first time, such as
paying your bills. Each day is filled
with a myriad of stresses. However, by
building in appropriate coping techniques into your daily schedule, you can
develop the skills you need to handle stress effectively. In the end, you might earn a grade of A for
your stress management ability.
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