How to Deal with Stress

Keeping crazy hours. Fixing a new schedule. Joining a school organization. Dealing with `terror’ teachers. Feeling under the weather. Unruly roommates. Exams. Project deadlines. ... the list goes on.

These are but some of the things that stress out most university students. Then again, who doesn’t experience stress? It's the innate nature of the human mind to be restless, but there are stress management techniques to still the mind and calm the senses. As demanding place as university life can get, it can be loads of fun, too. It's all a matter of time management and maneuvering events/circumstances so that they work in your favor.

Stress should not be taken lightly. It can be a good thing if it pushes you to improve and turn in your best performance; but it can also be bad if you ignore it and let it evolve into a chronic condition that can trigger illnesses like asthma, migraines, skin disorders or other serious illnesses. Some of the ways to efficiently handle what life throws at you while in university are to keep the mind relaxed but quite alert, learn to adopt to the situation and keep a positive mindset.

The key to coping with stress is to identify the type or source of your stress. By pinpointing your particular stressors you can then start neutralizing them more effectively. By employing stress management techniques, you can better cope and enjoy life. Remember that life is short and you can make tremendous impact on people and events around you, so do the best that you can to address the various stressors that threaten to impede your life.

If biological stressors like incessant colds, cough or flu are affecting both your studies and social life, you may need to revamp your diet and load up on foods vitamin-rich foods, supplement smartly and dispel stress (which may be exacerbating your condition) by breathing properly, doing meditative exercises, relaxing and letting go of expectations. Lack of essential multivitamins may be what’s making you feel sluggish, irritable or somewhat scatterbrained. Additive-laden fastfood and junk foods, too much coffee and alcohol may also be hampering your health and well-being. If stress from academics is what’s causing you to feel off-kilter, better time management may help. Know that you can be in control. Plan to break down large tasks into small manageable ones. When you find your school load or projects multiplying, pace yourself and prioritize the most important/urgent ones.

As for social stressors like adjusting to a roommate, juggling a part-time job with time for special friends and school work, or finding yourself the subject of negative talks, bear in mind that you cannot please everybody. You need not aspire to reach other people’s high standards, nor set unrealistically high ones for yourself.

Have a creative outlet to vent your frustrations, like a hobby or sport that gives a cardio workout. Finding time to relax is part and parcel of good stress management. Once you’ve recharged and taken time out for yourself, you’d be amazed that you can get back to the tasks at hand with greater vigor and enthusiasm.