Stress is not something entirely new for students, especially those in college and university. However, the constant worry of staying on top of assignments, classes and extracurricular activities can take a significant toll on the mental health and ruin the experience of an otherwise happy academic life.
What Are The Effects Of Stress?
Any mental or physical strain can cause stress in students, which can have severe repercussions if prolonged. The most common effects of stress include increased levels of anxiety and depression. Additionally, it can also result in,
- Mood swings
- Low levels of energy
- Change in eating habits
- Sleeping pattern changes
- Poor academic results
While some students ignore the initial signs, it’s always best to consult a professional if you experience such symptoms for a prolonged period.
What Are The Common Causes Of Stress?
In a survey of 80 students studying in different streams, almost 50% admitted that they were stressed due to their studies. Other common areas of concern were the fear of failure and parental as well as peer pressure.
However, the causes aren’t confined to studies only. Other factors that can influence students emotionally are:
- Changes in surroundings
- Transition phases in life
- Relationships
- Family dynamics
- Work issues
- Social problems
There’s no doubt that any issues related to these factors can severely affect students’ mental health, making them unable to function efficiently. Navigating through social problems while transitioning into new phases of life is an intrinsic part of high school, college and university.
How To Counter This Stress?
The increased frequency of mental health awareness programs and workshops in academic institutions has made students aware that excessive stress can become harmful if left unchecked. As a result, searches for ways to tackle this stress have increased worldwide.
Some helpful tips that you can follow to reduce this stress are:
1. Close your eyes and take deep breaths
Studies show that breathing exercises or “diaphragmatic breathing” can help reduce a considerable amount of stress. When you continue the process of slow and deep inhalation and exhalation, you can feel a drop in your stress levels immediately. Yogic practitioners use this deep breathing technique since ancient times to alleviate emotional exhaustion and improve quality of life.
2. Make sure to communicate properly
It is crucial to keep your communication channels open when you’re under too much stress. Talking to a close group of friends or family members can help you reduce some of the tension off your shoulders. Sometimes, you can find surprising solutions to your problems when you confide in others who give you a different perspective.
3. Reduce your caffeine intake
Studies show that too much caffeine intake can cause increased levels of stress, anxiety and jitteriness. Additionally, it affects your sleep and raises blood pressure. Therefore, try to avoid those late-night coffee breaks while working on your assignments.
4. Work on your time management skills
Students who have trouble managing their time are the ones who experience a lot of stress with the mounting homework. When you avoid procrastination and prioritise your tasks correctly, you’ll be able to complete everything without taking on too much pressure.
5. Sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours
According to the American Psychological Association reports, those who sleep for less than eight hours a night show signs of higher stress levels. Moreover, chronic sleep deprivation can affect the students’ memory, judgement and critical thinking abilities. Therefore, you should always try to sleep for at least seven to eight hours daily to lead a healthier, stress-free life.
6. Find online tools that can help you with assignments
Juggling multiple assignments can be stressful for any student. However, several online resources, such as free plagiarism checker and mathematical equation solver tools, can help you complete your tasks more efficiently.
7. Plan out a proper schedule
Making out time for classes, extracurricular activities, and other obligations can be extremely stressful. But when you have a schedule to follow, you can manage your time in a better manner. It’s best to start with daily or weekly schedules to know how much time you need to allow for each task.
8. Have some dark chocolate occasionally
Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and can reduce stress by lowering certain hormones in your body. So, keep a bar of chocolate close by and take a bit or two every time you feel anxious about your studies.
9. Indulge in hobbies
An excellent way to keep stress at bay is to indulge in hobbies that can help you unwind. Many students prefer to take up sports, draw, cooking, and other activities that can keep their minds occupied without any worries about performing well.
10. Take consideration for your efforts as well as the results
Sometimes, you won’t achieve the best grades despite putting in a lot of effort. However, if you have worked hard to ensure a high-quality assignment without depending on things like paraphrasing tools, then try to give a pat on your back for the effort you expended.
11. Take short meditation breaks
When everything around you seems too overwhelming, close your eyes and meditate. You’d be surprised to see how effective sitting quietly for 10 minutes can be when you’re trying to reduce your stress levels. You can also indulge in breathing exercises during meditation to soothe your nerves and improve oxygen flow in your body.
12. Consider venturing into aromatherapy
Certain scents like lavender, orange blossom and rose have soothing effects on the nerves and therefore help to reduce your stress. Thus, you can try to look up some scented candles or essential oils to help you dive into aromatherapy.
13. Learn to say “NO” at times
When you already have too much work on your shoulders, try to avoid taking on more responsibilities. Unfortunately, many students have difficulty refusing help to anyone and take on more responsibility than they can handle. Therefore, actively practice how to say “No” to people.
14. Find reasons to laugh
As the saying goes, “Laughter is the best medicine.” So whether it is through watching funny videos online or joking around with your friends, try to find more opportunities to laugh. This helps your body to release endorphins which are effective against stress.
15. Follow a healthy diet
Eating healthy is crucial if you wish to maintain a good lifestyle. Otherwise, you’ll be riddled with health issues which translate to medical bills and immense stress. Therefore, always eat a balanced diet and ensure that you reduce your junk food intake.
16. Try to exercise daily
Studies show that increased cardiovascular activities release hormones that are effective against fighting stress. Therefore, a simple walk around the campus grounds or in the park with your pet can re-energise you immensely.
17. Unwind with your loved ones
Being surrounded by your loved ones helps you relax and unwind from the constant worries that plague your mind. Therefore, a weekend out with friends or family can go a long way to help you reduce stress levels.
18. Avoid running away from your problems
No matter how much you wish to look away from your problems, they’re not going to disappear just because you don’t want to acknowledge them. If you keep on stalling the solution for these issues, you’ll end up enduring more stress.
19. Hire professional help during emergencies
There are many online writing services where you can hire a professional for help with assignment writers online Such services come in handy when you have an emergency and cannot spend time working on your papers.
20. Try to see the bright side of things
A pessimistic mind is more likely to be stressed than someone who has a more optimistic view. If you fail to secure good grades in your papers or encounter a challenging situation, try to see what you can gain from it. All negative experiences provide you with learning opportunities so you can avoid similar problems in the future.
Summing it up,
Stress is a daily part of everyone’s life in the 21st century. As a student, you’re bound to face your share of stressful situations as well. The twenty tips in this blog can help you alleviate some of the anxiety. But if you feel that your stress is affecting your daily life severely, try to consult a professional as soon as possible.