Nearing the one-month mark of the semester, students are beginning to feel the stresses and pressures that are associated with college. Whether it is homesickness, work overload or anything in between, just about every college student has some degree of stress.
Jenna LoMenzo, freshman special education major, shares her experience with stress on campus. “What has been making me stressed out in school is adjusting to heavy amounts of work to do in each class.” LoMenzo continues, “most freshmen are probably not used to such a strict amount of work and handing it in on time. It is been hard to balance between doing my work, studying, eating and having dance practice.”
Thomas Biddle, sophomore history and political science major, briefly explains that the roots of his college stresses are tests, major projects and term papers.
Sophomore biology major Ben Danner, also weighs in. “The most stressful part of school is time management. How much time should I allot to genetics versus organic chemistry? Should I go to that party tonight or I should I really study those derivatives?”
According to the Indiana University Health Center website, here are some suggestions to help reduce stress.
First, schedule a time to do aerobic exercise for 20 minutes each day. Exercise helps clear the mind and pumps oxygen into the brain.
Second, eat well-balanced meals. Well-balanced meals include whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Third, reduce or avoid the use of caffeine, refined sugars, alcohol and drugs. Introducing any of these substances to the human body will affect the way a person thinks, acts and behaves.
Lastly, get at least seven hours of sleep regularly. If a person receives plenty of sleep, they will be more alert and ready to handle what the world gives them.
LoMenzo explains how she deals with academic stress. “How I have been handling my stress is by planning out my weeks on Sundays by sitting with my syllabus and seeing where some homework will take me longer then others and mapping out when to do it all.”
Biddle explains his outlook on how he helps reduce stress. “Get your work done early so you don’t have to worry about it and still have time to make any needed corrections or changes.”
Danner provided some excellent time management tips that can help ease college anxiety. “The way I manage my time is through using a calendar. I am able to see upcoming test dates and visualize where I need to be academically before those dates. A calendar is an integral part of time management as well as having the self discipline to actually do the studying.”
Danner also adds, “There is really no way to prevent stress at college. Stress is a natural human emotion that positively affects progression in our lives. When I find stress to become unbearable I typically like to vent with my friends or just take a break from homework. When I realize that I am not the only stressed person on campus, my stress level diminishes.”
Junior elementary education major, Liam O’Dowd, explains. “Stress usually doesn’t become an issue, but when it does, it helps to talk it out. To help prevent stress, I would say don’t put things off.”
Students who would like professional advice on handling stress can speak with a counselor for free by making an appointment with counseling and psychological services, now relocated in the lower level of Founder’s Hall room 95.
