Managing Stress in College

Stress in college is no joke. Many of us are balancing classes full time, a job (or two), maybe an internship, time with friends, and personal challenges all while trying to figure out our lives after college. It’s no surprise that students are stressing. Here are seven tips for managing stress in college:

Take care of your health

Stick to the basics. Eating real meals and getting enough sleep will help you feel better overall and ensures you’re ready to take on the day.

Make a list

If your head is spinning from all the stuff you have to do, write it all down as a daily to-do list. When it’s time to sleep but you’re still stressing about your to-do list, jot down the tasks you will prioritize first thing tomorrow.

Take a walk

Get moving! Let’s be real. If you’re stressed and short on time, sticking to a normal workout routine is probably not your top priority right now. Opt for a quick 5-10 minute walk to help you relax.

Tone down on caffeine

If you regularly start your day with a cup of coffee, there’s no need to give it up. However, going overboard with caffeine can increase how anxious you feel and is counterproductive—you got this!

Schedule time for breaks

Realistically, no one can stay focused for hours and hours on end. Reward your hard work with breaks once you’ve checked off a few things from your to-do list.

Learn to say no

Saying no sometimes is a struggle, and I’m definitely a “yes” person. If you HAVE to get something done, stay in for a night and put in the work. You’ll be happy you did in the long run.

A certain amount of stress in college is expected, but once this feeling becomes too overwhelming reach out to CAPS on-campus for further support. For more info on CAPS, visit the website.