According to ADAA, 30 percent of college students reported that stress had negatively affected their academic performance and 85 percent of college students reported they had felt overwhelmed by everything they had to do at some point within the past year.
Stress can be a big part of college.
I am dealing with a ton of stress, and staying positive in the midst of that can be very hard to do.
So, my goal for this year was to find a way to stay positive throughout even the most stressful of situations.
Bluffton students have lots of ideas for managing their stress, especially toward the end of the semester.
“I prioritize what needs to happen first,” said Michael Short, a freshman ministry assistant. “I usually talk to somebody. I find that doing small parts of whatever is stressing me out and coming back to it throughout the day is helpful.”
“I usually just make a list,” said freshman Claire Myree.
Piecing out what you want to do is a great idea for relieving stress. It can help you feel like you’ve accomplished more and that you have put together something with greater quality. By also making a list, you can cross off what you’ve done as you go along, and completing multiple tasks within a day can help you to feel less stressed.
I eat a lot of popcorn and watch Netflix,” said freshman Michelle Swartley.“I talk to other people who have stress, too.”
Talking with people who also have stress can also be very helpful. Going through something alone versus going through something with someone else can be a big difference maker. If someone you know also has that big test or paper coming up, it’s a lot easier to cope with stress because of the extra support you will receive from someone you know.
“I like to workout,” said senior Noah Rathburn.
Whether it’s between grinding out some weights in the weight room or running for two hours, exercise can really help to relieve stress.
“I listen to upbeat music or draw to feel better,” said freshman Lillian MtCastle.
Partaking in artistic activities can help you to feel creative, becoming lost in your own work can help you to forget the pressures of stress.
Getting outside of your head and forgetting about things for a little bit is very helpful when dealing with stress.
Staying positive in general is always something that’s hard to do, but once you add stress, anxiety and tasks you have to complete, positivity can be tough to achieve.
You also need to make sure you are taking care of yourself. Lots of water, lots of food, lots of rest.
As a fellow Bluffton student, athlete, writer for The Witmarsum and an editor for The Shalith, I have my nose in a lot of books. I know what it’s like to have a ton of stress, and I know it can be hard dealing with multiple tasks within the same day.
I promise you that stress and anxiety are not as strong as you are, and overcoming stress is something many college students deal with.
Staying positive during stressful times can be difficult, but by surrounding yourself with the right people and keeping your mind off of stress, you can overcome stress and stay positive.
If none of what has been suggested in this article works out for you, I strongly recommend seeing a counselor or talking with your friends, no matter how embarrassed you may be. Your friends don’t want you to fail…unless you have horrible friends, in which case, you need better friends.
Campus counselor Rae Staton can be a great resource for stress, anxiety and other issues that surround college life, and she can be contacted here.
