Between organic chemistry lecture class and 11:59 deadlines, college students are put in stressful situations all the time. The stress will feel like it’s never ending, that’s why it is important to learn effective ways to manage stressors throughout life. Where will your bridge lead you? While stress can be a bridge for motivation for some students, others find it as a bridge to anxiety. It is important for students to recognize the factors that are causing them stress in order to develop strategies to manage negative emotions that may arise from them. Stress causes more damage to us than what we would like to think or believe. Stress can make it extremely difficult for us to control our emotions. A study done by Healthline reports, “in 2013 neuroscientists found that even mild levels of stress can impair our ability to control our emotions.” Stress can trigger multiple different types of emotions, such as anger, sadness, and/or depression. These emotions are all deemed to be negative and do not help us progress towards success. The key to managing stress levels is creating balance. Students must manage the stressors of maintaining their grades, social lives, work schedules, and financial responsibilities. While some of these stressors make up the enjoyable parts of the college experience, they can be a challenge to balance. An American College Health Association (2015) survey found that stress has become the most serious academic impediment among students at over a hundred colleges and universities across the U.S. That was in 2015, and there is a reason why many colleges, such as Mercy, give students mental wellness days since the pandemic began. Dealing with your stress level is a crucial part of having a healthy mind. Finding a balance can be one of the toughest things to do, but no worries I will share the steps you will need to so that you can effectively manage your stress. Things to Remember in Stressful Situations:
- Take a moment and clear your mind: It always helps me to physically remove myself from a stressful situation. This can be done by going for a run, reading a book, or my favorite- listening to music.
- Ask for help: You are never alone. Chances are that If you are struggling with a task someone else is to. Do not be afraid to ask for advice or guidance from your peers, professors, and/or mentors. Many of them have already experienced the same problem, something similar, or are currently experiencing it. They are your support system! They are there to help you.
- Give it your all and do not beat yourself up about certain situations: You’ve got this! You are only human- we make mistakes. You are not going to handle every situation efficiently. The important thing is to learn from your experiences. Pick yourself up and dust yourself off and keep going.
It is important that you do not stress over the things that you cannot control! Once you teach yourself all of that then the other things will follow. Your attitude says a lot about you, and if you are always mad because life is throwing too much at you at once, it will radiate from you to others. What are some methods you can use to relieve stress?
- Meditation
- Massages
- Think about your happy place
- Laugh
- Listen to music that soothes you
An American philosopher and psychologist, William James, once said, “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” Stress is something that attacks us at all ages, but it is up to us to determine how it affects us. Following my steps on how to alleviate stress will help you have a smoother journey towards achieving more peace in your life. These steps do not just have to be used when stressed; they can be adapted for everyday use also! The next time you are stressed, sit back, and ask yourself, “is this stress good for my mental state or is it deteriorating my mental state?” Asking yourself this question is crucial because it will determine where your bridge leads you!
