How students can lift university life stress

Most students experience significant amounts of stress, and this stress can take a significant toll on health, happiness, and grades. Stress can affect health-related behaviors like sleep patterns, diet, and exercise as well, taking a larger toll. Given that nearly half of survey respondents reported completing three hours of work per night in addition to their full day of  university and extracurriculars for many of them, this is understandable. Students face a significant amount of stress due to various factors. Many aspects of university life, as well as the stress that comes with it, can all impact a student’s physical and emotional health.

Common causes of student's stress

Common sources of stress include:

• University
• Lectures
• Extracurricular activities
• Social challenges
• Transitions (graduating, moving out, living independently)
• Relationships
• Work

Once they are finally accepted to the university of their dreams (or one they're happy to go to), the stress continues as they need to make new friends, handle a more challenging workload, be without parental support in many instances, and navigate the stresses that come with more independent living and making choices that will hopefully lead to a career. And relationships always add an extra layer of potential stress. 

Many students feel a sense of needing to relieve stress, but with all of the activities and responsibilities that fill a student’s schedule, it’s sometimes difficult to find the time to try new stress relievers to help dissipate that stress. If you’re a university student and facing stress, here are some ways you can maintain good health and keep your sanity.

• Proper Sleep

Students, with their packed schedules, are notorious for missing sleep. Unfortunately, operating in a sleep-deprived state puts you at a distinct disadvantage. You’re less productive, you may find it more difficult to learn, and you may even be a hazard behind the wheel. Don't neglect your sleep schedule. Aim to get at least 8 hours a night and take power naps when you need them.

• Visualization 

Using guided imagery to reduce stress is easy and effective. Visualizations can help you calm down, detach from what’s stressing you, and turn off your body’s stress response. You can also use visualizations to prepare for presentations and score higher on tests by vividly seeing yourself performing just as you’d like to. 

• Exercise 

One of the healthiest ways to blow off steam is to get a regular exercise program going. Students can work exercise easily into their schedules by doing yoga in the morning, walking or biking to campus, or reviewing for tests with a friend while walking on a treadmill at the gym. Starting now and keeping a regular exercise practice throughout your lifetime can help you live longer and enjoy your life more.

• Organization

It’s a fact that clutter causes stress, and can decrease productivity and even cost you money. Many students live in a cluttered place and even have cluttered study areas, and this can have negative effects on grades. One way to reduce the amount of stress that you experience as a student is to keep a minimalist, soothing study area that’s free of distractions and clutter. This can keep stress levels low while studying, can save time in finding lost items, and keep roommate relationships more positive. It can also help students gain a positive feeling about their study area, which can help with test prep and encourage more studying. It’s worth the effort. 

• Eat Right  

You may not realize it, but your diet can either boost your brain power or sap you of mental energy.While fast food and junk food are cheap, convenient, and plentiful, they don’t set you up to do your best. Be sure to keep your dorm room or apartment stocked with a few fresh fruits and veggies, and high-protein snacks, and be sure that your main meals are healthy and balanced.  

• Stay Connected to Home 

Whether you’re down the street or across the country, being away from home can be difficult at times. Don’t forget to use the phone, email and even video teleconferencing to stay in touch with family and friends at home. A quick chat with mom can go a long way.

• Branch Out At University 

Getting involved with groups and clubs at university can be an excellent remedy. Join an exercise class, talk to people you run into around campus, or taking advantage of the many social opportunities on your campus that can put you in touch with people who may end up being lifelong friends. It can be difficult to put yourself out there, but having people to study with, exercise with, commiserate with and party with are worth getting past shyness for and can relieve a lot of university stress.

• Self-Hypnosis 

Students often find themselves "getting very sleepy" (like when they pull all-nighters), but—all kidding aside—self-hypnosis can be an effective stress management tool and a powerful productivity tool as well.With it, you can help yourself release tension from your body and stress from your mind, and plant the seeds of success in your subconscious mind with the power of autosuggestion.