Managing Your Stress
In most of my blog posts so far, the subject has featured extra-curricular activities (clubs, internships, sporting events). However, pursuing many of these things can overwhelm any college student. To avoid overwhelming yourself, you can follow some of my tips.
Staying in
No matter where you go to school, there are plentiful opportunities to go out and party it up (Whoo!) on every Friday and Saturday night (not to mention Thursday, and for some schools, Wednesday). But, you don’t always have to be the life of every party, and skipping one every once in a while is good for the mind.
Your friends may dis you, but staying in is a better way to relax than hitting the bars or the clubs. For me, at the end of a week filled with classes, club meetings, and study sessions, a night of pizza and TV was like heaven.
When your body is worn out from a week of work, a night of staying in can do wonders for your mental and physical health.
Have some “me” time
This is similar to the last tip, but this can be exercised at any time. If you feel over-stressed from school or work or relationship drama, take some alone time.
When I went through some serious relationship dram my freshman year (I will spare you the details) I really enjoyed spending some time by myself.
If you are a freshman, this can be challenging, though, especially if the person you want time away from is your roommate. In that case, I suggest your school’s library. Libraries tend to have vast areas where you can find your own space. At my school, our library has large windowsills that are perfect for taking a nap.
Drop activities that create stress
While my first two suggestions were attempts at treating symptoms of stress, the last one is about treating the cause.
If you find that you are constantly feeling stress, or feel you are stretched too thin, don’t be afraid to drop an activity from your life.
Things such as sports, jobs, and internships are great, but remember that your priority is school. It doesn’t matter how great your resume is if you don’t graduate. If an activity is causing you problems, stop doing it.
It’s great to be active, but it is better to be happy.
