“Coping with Life Stresses in College”

Stress is something that all college students may endure during their college experience. There are many books to read, long hours of studying, the temptation of attending parties, or simply the need to show up for numerous classes. Many students are just now learning the art of making decisions and of handling difficult situations on their own. The aspect of attending college can be stressful. As part of that aspect, there are regular daily activities that have to be done. One of the largest causes of stress can include time management; and, for students who are also working adults/single parents, stress can be a lot worse.

Many college students today often have a persistent problem with time management. As society and technology continue to grow, the faster our lives become. The hustle and bustle of attending classes; working to have an income in a declining economy; and, for some, having a family, can put a strain on students. I know this, because I was once one of those students who were juggling every minute of the day to complete my many tasks. With all of these things going on in our minds, stress begins to come in and establish a home within us.

Working adults and single parent students often endure the bulk of stress while trying to have a life in college. The number of students who are single parents and working adults is on the rise due to the increasing need to earn higher wages. One may ask, “How do these students make it? How do they survive?” I remember other students and professors asking me those very same questions. I was married and had a son during my time in college; and, at times, had to take my son to those late seminar classes during my senior year.

Coping with these stresses is important. The primary objective, for college students, is that of maintaining a good GPA in order to be successful. I, myself, came out of college with a B- GPA. I strongly want to attend law school, but most of them would like one to have a high A and a decent LSAT score. Therefore, it has been harder on me to get in because I did not know how to manage my stress in college in order to get that high A that I am well capable of achieving.

A few tips for handling stress include:

Finding out what makes you tick:

If you know what that thing is that pushes your button or sends you over the edge, you can better handle it. Identifying the problem is crucial. If you know what the problem is, you can fix it.

Be Positive:

Once you have identified the problem, remain positive. Keep a positive attitude. Being positive can take you a long way.

Practice:

Practice speaking positive affirmations when you know you may be losing ground. You are merely practicing having a positive mindset and the stress in your life will eventually leave.

Lastly, dealing with stress is not the easiest thing in the world to do. Each student may have different types of stresses as well as triggers, but finding out what your stress is and attacking it will help you throughout those four years. Talking to professors, counselors, and advisors may help you decrease your stresses and increase your time management efficiency.