Site Map: Dealing with Stress

It's so easy to feel overly stressed-out in college. There are many times during the semester when reports, exams and presentations all seem to coincide in the same week - or even the same day. Schedules can get so packed that some students wonder if they will even have time to eat and sleep.

• Changes in sleep patterns or waking up without feeling well rested
• Frequent headaches or recurring colds
• Feeling overly disorganized or having difficulty completing simple tasks
• Increased frustration and anger lasting for long periods of time

There are ways to positively manage stress that are based around maintaining the balance between your intellectual, social and personal development.

• Exercise. This releases a lot of the stored up energy you might have from sitting at the library for an evening. Go to the gym, jog around campus, or play Frisbee with friends. Physical activity is a great way to forget about your stress and feel good about doing something beneficial for your body.
• Write down your goals. List your long term (this year) and short term (this week) goals. This can help you gain perspective-- even if life is particularly busy now, it won't be busy forever.
• Work on time management. You will be less stressed as you get better at managing your time. Set a schedule for yourself that balances school and social time and stick to it.
• Laugh. Watching a funny TV show or movie can make you forget all about what is causing you to stress-out. Let yourself relax and then go back to your work with a refreshed outlook.