College students’ busy schedules can include juggling classes, assignments, extracurricular activities, working and having a social life. This leaves students with a full plate of activities and sometimes too much stress to handle, and managing it all can become a balancing act.
Richard Falzone, a psychiatrist, said maintaining consistent healthy behaviors is essential for managing stress.
“Designing your own personal routine that includes consistent sleep and wake times, exercise, a low-sugar diet and moderate-to-low indulgence in intoxicants such as alcohol is key,” Falzone said.
In recent years, more students appear to have problems managing their stress. There has been a 30 percent rise in students seeking counseling appointments between the 2009-10 school year and the 2014-15 school year, according to a 2017 report called “By the Numbers: Stress on Campus” from the American Psychological Association.
In colleges across the nation, the average ratio between students and counseling staff members is 1,731:1, which would leave counselors with a large workload. The report also claims 61 percent of college students who seek counseling report experiencing anxiety. In the report, these statistics are related to the stress of the students’ responsibilities, but they also include other aspects such as relationship troubles and family issues.
Falzone said practicing meditation can provide students with a way to manage their stress.
“Mindfulness meditation has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and improve mental and emotional functioning,” Falzone said.
As midterm exams approach, stress levels grow for students. They are spending a lot of time studying and reviewing to prepare for upcoming exams, meaning they will most likely be spending more time than usual focusing on their academics. This may lead to mental fatigue and time management problems.
Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, two psychology professors at the University of Michigan, developed a concept known as the Attention Restoration Theory. The theory was created to help students who often spend too much time engaged in things that require unwavering attention restore their mental fatigue.
Their theory suggests people should spend time in nature to cope with their mental stress and restore brain functions. The idea is that nature helps people remove themselves from the stress factors in their everyday lives. Instead of being swept up in day-to-day antics, people can alleviate their mental strain by enjoying nature, which helps them clear their minds and be at peace. This theory also suggests exposure to nature assists in concentration and problem-solving.
Leah Bennett, a sophomore at the University of Memphis, said maintaining an equilibrium with her routine is stressful.
“Balancing school work causes me the most stress,” Bennett said. “To manage my stress, I just dive into my work. I have six classes. I work four days a week. I am in Student Activities Council, and I am a morale captain for Up ‘til Dawn.”
Bennett also said despite having many things on her to-do list, she still finds a way to complete her homework.
“I always have a lot of homework, which can be overwhelming sometimes, but somehow I still manage to get it done,” Bennett said.
Photo illustration of a stressed brain.
