Identify and acknowledge stress
The first step to managing stress is recognizing and acknowledging its presence. Understand that stress is a normal response to challenging situations and that it affects everyone differently. We all have different stressors and varying tolerance levels. Having a lower tolerance level does not make you a weaker person! In fact, you might just be better than most at detecting your own stress levels and recognizing your own emotional state. Take the time to identify the specific causes of your stress, whether it's upcoming exams, deadlines, or personal issues. By pinpointing the main sources of stress in your life, you can come up with targeted strategies to tackle them effectively.
Manage your time
Time management is a cornerstone of stress management for students. A common point of stress for many students is when they find themselves pressed for time. Create a schedule or use a planner to organize your tasks, assignments, and deadlines. Prioritize important tasks, break them down into smaller, manageable chunks, and allocate dedicated study periods. Time management can be viewed in different ways. Managing your time throughout the day with the use of timed routine requires different skills from managing your time over a longer period of time, for example, managing your time across an entire semester. Good time management can prevent you from having to race against the clock and create a sense of control over your workload.
Develop a balanced mindset
Often, stress is not merely caused by the stressful activity itself. Stress can be largely due to our own extreme mindsets, expectations and black and white thinking. Approaching a task with the aim of achieiving perfection is a very common cause of stress. Managing your expectations and setting more reasonable, balanced goals for yourself is a good way to combat this. Another mistake students make is severely underestimating the amount of time it takes to complete a task or reach a target. Practice keeping an eye on the time and observe how long it usually takes you to do things like revising a chapter, finishing one essay etc. Over time, your sense of time and your expectations will become more realistic! The final most common mistake that can cause stress is overestimating the difficulty of a task. This causes unnecessary stress and procrastination. Make tasks easier to approach by breaking them down!
Exercise and eat healthy
Regular physical activity is an excellent stress reliever for students. Engaging in exercise, whether it's walking, jogging, swimming, or playing a sport, helps release endorphins, which boost mood and reduce stress levels. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each day to reap the benefits. Additionally, physical activity promotes better sleep quality, which is crucial for stress reduction. On top of exercise, eating nutritious meals, and staying hydrated as well as avoiding excessive caffeine and junk food can keep stress levels to a minimum.
Relax intentionally
Set aside some time everyday to unwind and let go of feelings of stress and pressure by intentionally engaging in restful activities. Techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, and mindfulness can help calm your mind, improve focus, and reduce anxiety. Find a relaxation technique that resonates with you and dedicate a few minutes each day to practice it. Even short breaks for deep breathing can help alleviate stress during particularly challenging moments.
Keep a strong support system
Having a strong support system is crucial when it comes to stress management. Reach out to friends, family, or mentors who can provide guidance and a listening ear. Sharing your concerns and seeking advice from others can often bring fresh perspectives and alleviate stress. Aother way to expand your network is to join student clubs or organizations that align with your interests to foster wholesome connections and provide opportunities for social support.