Handling Stress: Tips for Overloaded College Students 

Stress is a more than common experience for many college students, especially for those juggling academics, part-time jobs, social commitments, and personal goals. Recognizing and addressing this stress early is key to maintaining your mental and physical health. Running from your stress can only make it worse, which is why it’s best to take a step back every now and again to focus on your wellbeing. 

Luckily, there’s a few simple practices you can add into your daily routine that will help to both recognize and relieve the stress that life can bring. Here’s our guide to help take a weight off of your shoulder. 

1. Prioritize Sleep 

While it’s tempting to stay up to get a few extra hours of studying or to scroll through your phone before bed, sleep is truly the most crucial component of our functionality. In fact, staying up to study may have the opposite effect that you are wishing ot achieve. Lack of sleep exacerbates burnout symptoms, making you feel sluggish and decreasing concentration and focus. To improve your sleep quality, aim for 7–9 hours of rest each night by establishing a consistent bedtime and wake-up schedule. Create a calming wind-down routineto signal your body that it’s time to relax. Additionally, avoid screens an hour before bed to reduce blue light exposure, which can disrupt your natural sleep cycle.

2. Practice Saying No

So many college students feel obligated to say yes to every opportunity, whether it’s a social outing, club meeting, or additional responsibility. However, setting boundaries is necessary, especially when you are already seeing the impact of your stress. The best way that I was able to start setting boundaries was identifying my top priorities and letting go of commitments that don’t align with them. Make sure to remind yourself that saying no is an act of self-care, not selfishness.

3. Plan time for yourself into your schedule

 Now I know this can be tricky when it feels like you don’t have a second out of your day to spare. But setting a few minutes aside to reflect on your feelings and do something you enjoy can help to make the rest of your day easier and more productive. When you create time to focus on yourself, you allow your mind and body to relax and recharge for a moment. In the long run, this will help you to feel more ready to tackle the rest of your day. 

4. Find ways to treat yourself

Everyone deserves to do something nice for themselves every once in a while, and it doesn’t need to take a toll on your bank account. Some of my favorite easy, affordable ways to do this include picking up a face mask at the store (many only cost around two dollars), baking my favorite batch of cookies, and watching a good movie with a blanket. Activities like this can help to relax the mind and body and reduce stress. 

Stress doesn’t resolve itself, and waiting too long to address it can make recovery more difficult. By recognizing the signs early and incorporating these self-care strategies into your routine, you can regain your energy and motivation while maintaining a sense of balance and peace. Remember, taking care of yourself is not a luxury, it’s a necessity for long-term success and well-being.