How to Manage Stress as a College Student

Stress in college students is inevitable. Based on The American Institute of Stress (AIS), a whopping 80 percent of college students experience high levels of stress either sometimes or daily. Among them, around one in three (approximately 33 percent) students perform poorly as a consequence of stress.

While the effects of stress on college students may seem detrimental, they’re not the end-all-be-all. There are coping strategies you can use to improve your performance and overall experience in school. Below are some of the best strategies for stress management for college students.

Focus on Your Nutrition and Health

In college, drastic weight gain or weight loss is common as a result of stress. When people are stressed, they tend to either overeat or undereat, which in turn can make the situation so much worse. One way to prevent stress from worsening is to avoid eating junk foods (like chips and sugary treats) and start eating well-balanced meals to equip your body with the proper nutrition to combat stress.

Examples of food that can help relieve stress for college students include oatmeal, berries, dark chocolate, and chamomile tea. These foods contain vitamins and antioxidants that can reduce cortisol levels to keep stress at bay.

Practice Regular Self-Care

While eating a well-balanced diet is a way to care for yourself, it’s not the only solution. There are other ways to practice self-care and prevent college student stress. For instance, you can allot an hour a day to focus on the things you love (i.e., your hobbies or relationships). Likewise, you can go on a spa day, meditate, take a bubble bath, or exercise.

Engaging in various activities will help your mind forget about your worries, redirect it to something more pleasant, and unwind.

Try To Stay Organized

Being disorganized can make you lose track of everything. You may end up misplacing your assignments, forgetting an important event, or not accomplishing the tasks on your to-do list. As a result, you become overwhelmed and stressed about what’s on your plate.

Staying organized can help you avoid these issues. Have a calendar and schedule your tasks accordingly. Plus, after every study session, make sure to keep your desk neat. Removing distractions and unnecessary clutter can significantly reduce your stress and anxiety.

Keep a Positive Mindset

It may be hard to stay positive when faced with a daunting task or a stressful situation. But you need to practice having a positive mindset if you want to manage your stress.

Even if college students and stress go hand-in-hand, you need to find ways to counteract the effects by giving yourself positive encouragement and positive reinforcements. These will help you reduce the risk of developing chronic stress.

Wrapping Up

There are many reasons why college students are stressed. Whether it be pressure, finances, family matters, homework, the future, or something else entirely, it’s important to pinpoint the root cause of the problem and do something about it.

These strategies and stress-free activities for college students can influence their mental health in a more positive light. Follow these guidelines to manage your stress more effectively.