+5 Life-Changing Ways To Reduce Stress For Students
Wake up for class. Get out of bed. Rush out the door. Give your full attention to three 1.5 hour classes for the day. Find time to study. Hang out with friends. Try to find time to exercise. Attempting to eat healthy food. Trying to get good grades. It’s a LOT. Every student goes through the ebbs and flows of college life and we all get stressed out by the constant desire to do more, be better, and make meaningful connections with people you meet on campus.
Finding healthy ways to decrease your stress levels is important! Too many students struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and even eating disorders at some point in their college career. Unfortunately, these issues directly correlate with having a lower GPA and a higher chance of dropping out of college.
To combat this, I am going to give you some incredible ways to finally stress less and really take advantage of the freedom and independence you get when you are a college student.
This post is all about ways to reduce stress for students.
Ways To Reduce Stress For Students
Get counseling
I remember vividly walking into a small office and beginning my first counseling session at my school after I went through a traumatic life event as a student. I didn’t want to talk to my friends about it and I definitely didn’t want to talk about it with my family. Desperately wanting an unbiased and educated opinion, I turned to counsel.
My counseling experience was great overall. I think I would’ve continued to stay in my depressed state if I didn’t go. And when I am in such a low place, nothing and no one can change my mind on how I am feeling. So, seeing someone who is used to hearing people’s problems and creating action plans to help them feel better was such a helpful experience that I think more students should take advantage of.
Only 25% of students with mental health problems in college reach out for help. So put away any pride or preconceived notions about counseling and please give it a try if you’re struggling.
Eat Healthier
For most, this is easier said than done. Whether you are on a college meal plan or you make your own food, eating healthier can definitely be a challenge. We want what’s convenient and tasty and we don’t always get that or make it when we aren’t used to eating super healthy in the first place.
If you are eating strictly on campus, like I did especially freshman year, pick the healthier options. Greens such as salads, broccoli, kale, and spinach are all good options. Also, consider eating healthy on a schedule. So, on certain days you choose the healthier options and on other days you can indulge yourself in a nice burger or something less healthy. It’s all about:
Ok, not perfect, but you get the point.
If you make your food, you haveeeee to meal prep. Like no question, just do it. Because this is the most realistic way to keep you eating healthy. Go on Pinterest and search healthy meal prep, go to Youtube and subscribe to some chefs that specialize in healthier eating and meal prepping. You’d be surprised how tasty you can make fruits and vegetables.
How does this help reduce stress?
Eating healthier improves your quality of life mentally and physically. USF College of public health research shows that healthy eating habits prevent heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and obesity.
Exercise More
I have never heard one of my friends say that they felt like sh*t after a good workout. There is a science to it! Movement helps your body release endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain killers and they promote pleasure. Many studies suggest that exercise may change the way your brain functions as well (in a good way). It is also shown to decrease the number of poor mental health days by 40%.
Get Good Rest
If I don’t get enough sleep, I am an actual monster. So if I’m constantly staying up multiple days a week without any naps the following day, I get so much stress and anxiety! An all-nighter every once in the while is not the worst thing in the world. But making it a habit to only get 2-3 hours of sleep is not helpful for you in the long term. So make sure you have a good night routine at a certain time every night to make sure you’re getting your 8 hours!
Plan Study Time
Juggling multiple classes and finding time to study has always been something I’ve struggled with. But, performing badly on tests definitely impacts my mental health. To get better grades, you must study, which will, in turn, help your mental health in the end.
So if you find yourself constantly stressing over your grades because you aren’t doing enough to succeed… let’s change that. Create a study schedule that fits into your life and make sure you stick to it. Also, make sure you celebrate your small wins. Each successful study session gets you closer to that A and reduces your anxiety over your grades – which was a huge problem for me.
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Plan Involvement
This one is so essential for me. This can mean joining a club, organization, program, or just hanging with friends. Getting involved with a club is so beneficial for my mental health because I’m meeting people who like what I like and I typically make new friends. Hanging out with friends is also something you should make time for. Because if they’re good friends, you’ll be laughing, bonding, and enjoying your time together.
These are just some of the incredibly impactful ways that you can de-stress and cope with the stress that comes with being a college student. Implementing more than one of these techniques will definitely get you into a better mental space as a college student and help you live a happier and healthier college life.
Let me know of things that you do to improve your quality of life as a college student! The more helpful ways that we share, the more students that we can get to have a more enjoyable college experience.
