College stress can show up in many areas (Chris Bixby).
By Chris Bixby
Stress is a common roadblock for college students, affecting their academic performance and mental well-being. It can come in many forms and from different aspects of college life.
For some students, their college stress begins when their classes end for the day. For William Thomas, a student at 4Cs, excessive loads of homework and lack of communication from professors are major sources of stress. Though helpful for time management skills and test preparation, excessive homework can increase anxiety and stress. A lack of communication from professors in the form of unclear guidance on deadlines and instructions for assignments, can make students fall further off track. Thomas says he relieves stress by exercising. Activities like weightlifting, cardio, and other gym workouts release endorphins, which improve mood, promote better sleep, and boost confidence.
Students can also become stressed as a result of their commutes to school. Christopher Bitter, a student at 4Cs, says what stresses him out the most is transportation in wintertime. Bitter primarily uses his motorcycle as his form of transportation, but noted that during cold and snowy weather, riding a motorcycle isn’t very safe. Instead, he takes the bus, which can become an issue for a variety of reasons such as toxic fumes and buses arriving much later than their scheduled arrival. Bitter lowers his stress levels by playing with his pet cats, using things like shoelaces and string toys. Playing with pets is a great way to relieve stress because, like exercise, it releases those “feel-good” chemicals that help us regroup.
Another way students get stressed is having a lot on their plate. 4Cs student Samantha Vennberg felt stressed during her first year on campus from balancing multiple classes at the same time. While taking multiple classes can be a good way to further your learning experience, it can also bring a great deal of stress because your brain is constantly switching focus between different assignments, and your time to take care of yourself is limited. Vennberg relieves stress by watching funny movies. Watching humorous movies is useful for resetting your mood and mentally escaping the daily pressures of student life.
Students’ experiences highlight the need for greater awareness and effective strategies to help manage the pressures of college life.
