Tried & Tested Stress Management Activities for College Students

Stress is almost a daily constant in a college student’s life, according to college stress statistics, and can come from anything. From the load of assignments you have to do to the internship ahead of you, it can be distressing. Studies on “how does stress impact college students” show that many students give up on college altogether because of stress.

Although stress, when it is in a small amount, can be a source of motivation, too much of it is overwhelming. Let’s discuss the best strategies for managing college stress.

How to deal with college stress: 5 reliable tips

1. Rest

It sounds counterproductive and probably like a bad idea; how can you rest when there is so much to do? However, you can hardly do anything when your brain and body aren’t well rested; they won’t cooperate with you. To be more productive, endeavor to sleep for at least six to eight hours every day; that includes resting between classes.

Therefore, the first tip on this list is that you get enough rest; that’s the best antidote for stress. You will be energized, refreshed, and motivated to do even more work when well-rested.

2. Exercise

Stress can leave you wound up, and you will not know it until you snap. Exercising or working out is an effective anti-stress activity that helps loosen up those muscles stress has made tight. By regularly exercising, you will be relieving yourself of stress and letting off some steam.

Exercising can be as simple as walking to and from the classroom or practicing yoga when you wake up. When you exercise, you release endorphins, which are powerful hormones that help you feel relaxed. You can find free stress management apps for college students with tips on managing stress and exercises that help.

3. Try breathing exercises

Another tip on how to not stress about college is practicing breathing exercises to bring your heart rate to be normal. Naturally, when our body responds to stress, it goes into a flight-or-fight response, thus resulting in our heart rate speeding up. The effect of that is that our breathing and thinking abilities are affected – and not in a good way.

The best remedy in this situation is to stay still, calm down, and take strong and steady breaths. These breathing exercises can help you relieve stress fast, bringing your heart rate down to normal.

4. Listen to music

Listening to music is one of the best stress relief activities for college students; it stimulates your mind and helps you relieve stress. This list would be incomplete without music; music has always had a calming effect on the body and mind. At the same time, listening to music promotes relaxation and helps to improve your concentration skills.

Whether for stress relief or relaxation, the power of listening to the right music is incredible. If you are studying and find yourself distracted, listening to classical music can help you regain focus. Likewise, if you need some motivation to get up and start the day, try playing some upbeat music.

5. Healthy dieting

Just like taking enough rest, eating well and eating right is a great, natural college stress management activity. What you eat and drink has the power to induce or relieve your stress in more ways than you can imagine. The right meal will boost your energy and leave you motivated to work and be productive. Also, you can manage anxiety, mood swings, light-headedness, and various stress-related ailments by eating healthily.

Conclusion

Many students have quit school due to the stress of college life – and worse. The college student stress statistics are alarming and need immediate and serious attention. If you are stressed about school, these activities are a great way to let off some steam and get yourself re-energized.