This may be your first year, this may be your third, regardless, it is very common for people in college to experience stress and anxiety. Is this the first time you are living away from home, or far away from home? Do you feel isolated, overwhelmed from all of your deadlines, and pulling late nights? Many factors can impact how you function and feel each day and college is an environment that presents a lot of different factors to make you feel that way. Transitioning from high school to college is difficult as is. The culture is different, the schedules are different, and it can be easier to let things pile up and prioritize other things, like friends, parties, or work.
Navigating Changes
The pandemic has impacted how people feel in many ways. When things were on lockdown, classes were virtual and it was rare to see people in-person. Online learning can be a barrier for some people, make it harder to focus, or even attend a class. Since things appear to be transitioning back to on campus classes and activities, this transition can be a lot for people. Learning how to navigate a routine, irregular class schedules, and finding times to eat and sleep as regularly as possible can be harder than imagined. If you live on a large campus you have to factor in travel time. Are you involved in any sports or clubs? That takes a lot of time and commitment as well. It can feel like you are juggling several different plates and you don’t want any of them to fall and break.
If it has gotten to the point that you are Googling articles and blogs to validate how you feel, just know that many people struggle with anxiety and stress and balancing everything while at college. Chances are your roommate and friends can relate to what you are feeling and help give you support if you talk to them. Open up about what is stressing you out and lean into your support system. Can you call your family? They may possibly be another person to talk to during hard times. If you feel like you need more support beyond that, see if your college or university has any professional resources on campus. They may have a wellness department or program or mental health professionals for you to talk to.
Coping Skills
Some other things to help ease stress and anxiety are being mindful of a regular sleep schedule, trying to reduce those late nights or all-nighters, do your best to eat 3 balanced meals a day, and find time to shower and take care of your personal hygiene. Don’t forget that a routine and tending to your basics can set you up for success, and living by those guidelines can help keep you energized, focused, and ready for the day. Watch for how many cups of coffee you’re having, and try not to use your bed for anything other than sleep. Try to reduce how much screen time you have before your bedtime. Practicing some of these self-care and sleep hygiene tips can help you improve your sleep.
Sometimes we need to engage in other types of self-care activities. Do you need to take some more breaks? Find time to hang out with friends and let loose? Can you find some time to do the things you enjoy like drawing, listening to music, or playing your favorite sport? Rounding out those social and leisure areas of our lives adds fulfillment and stimulation that academics cannot also accomplish. When you find that all of those assignments and exams are falling around the same time, take a few deep breaths, try to organize your thoughts with a list, a visual planner, and break your tasks down into smaller and feasible goals. Approaching things this way can be easier to do and less overwhelming. Set timers as a framework to accomplish things rather than telling yourself that you will get 2 assignments done. This can reduce your wanting to procrastinate and avoid things, which ultimately doesn’t help you feeling stressed and anxious. If you feel too isolated doing your school work, think about joining a study group or setting one up. Peers can help give you support, keep you focused, and help you with areas you may struggle with yourself. It is very common to feel stress and anxiety during different moments of your education.
If you feel like you are experiencing stress and symptoms of anxiety more regularly, intensely, or daily, think about talking to a mental health professional for support.
