5 Effective Ways to Manage Stress for College Students

College is an exciting time with lots of new challenges, but it’s also a stressful one. With busy schedules and strict deadlines for overwhelming written assignments, lots of students experience constant stress and anxiety that can impact their physical and emotional health. Don't freak out if you feel overloaded with tons of books, classes, and papers. There are some practical ways to manage stress that will help you relieve the pressure and bring balance into your life.

Get Organized

Manage your time – make a plan, and stick to it. Create a schedule for all your activities. Make sure you prioritize your activities and leave enough time for studying, social life, hobbies, family and friends, working, and having rest. Be ready that you may require more time for learning than you realize at first, so it’s better to overestimate when studying hours. And remember that you can always find reliable, professional help with your assignments online, for example, at AffordablePapers.com. In this way, you’ll avoid pulling all-nighters and feel more confident.

Think Positively

Turn negative thinking around because it’s your thoughts that create reality. Train your mind to imagine optimistic scenarios and avoid engaging in negative thoughts. Find time to relax – listen to soothing music, breathe consciously, spend time with people you love, meditate.

It’s crucial to take time to be absolutely quiet every day. You may say positive affirmations like, “I am calm and relaxed. I can cope with any obstacles.” Start meditating with a simple technique like deep breathing, and after that, watch YouTube videos and do guided meditation. You may also repeat a mantra. A good thing about meditation is that you can practice it anywhere and anytime. The good idea is to try aromatherapy. Use essential oils like lemon, lavender, ylang-ylang, bergamot, or jasmine to help you improve your emotional and physical well-being and lower stress levels.

Take Care of Your Body

That’s simple – you should eat right and get enough sleep. Many college students find it hard to get enough sleep due to busy schedules, but sleep deprivation may increase their stress levels. It can lead to serious health issues like obesity, diabetes, or depression. You need 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily to stay healthy. If you must stay up late or get up early, you can take power naps of 30 minutes during the day.

While an unhealthy diet can increase your stress levels by decreasing energy levels in the body, eating right can greatly reduce stress and boost your positive thinking. Healthy food will equip you with the nutrition your body needs to fight stress. Therefore, you should avoid junk food, alcohol, and energy drinks and follow a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and protein. Ensure your diet includes foods like eggs and meat and green leafy vegetables like spinach, nuts, dark chocolate, seeds, blueberries, oatmeal, and avocado that contain chemicals reducing the adverse effects of stress hormones.

Exercise

Regular exercise can help you combat not only stress but also weight gain. When you exercise, your body gets more oxygen and produces endorphins that act as natural painkillers and improve your mood. That’s why it’s important to incorporate exercise into your daily routine – at least 30 minutes of high-intensity exercise or 50 minutes of light walking. To fit more exercise into your schedule, you should choose activities you enjoy doing. For example, you can take regular walks in the park, do yoga, join a gym, or go swimming.

Try to make your routine exciting and combine muscle-building exercises with different variations of cardio weekly. This way, you will balance your physical or mental reactions to stress.

Find Support

When you go to college, you typically leave your best friends and family behind and adjusting to college can be very difficult. Without emotional support, you may feel lonely or “lost,” and both feelings can be stressful. It’s essential to stay connected to your family and friends at home, so you should use email, phone, or video chat in messengers to contact them. Besides, you should build a new support circle at college. Find a friend who will gladly listen to you and won’t be judgmental. Get involved in clubs and groups and take advantage of social opportunities to meet many people at the college campus. Who knows, maybe some of them will become your life-long friends. The good idea is to look for professional help. You can consult a professional counsellor or psychologist. If you feel you can’t handle your stress, you should contact your university’s mental health centre. 

Follow these easy tips and try to look for the good in every situation, even when your life seems to be a complete disaster.