Stress
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University students may be under high levels of stress due to their workloads and conflicting pressures from friends, family, and job. Research points to a set of proven stress reduction techniques that can be incorporated into any student's daily life. Techniques can be varied, depending on individual preferences, needs, and situations. For example, one solution for reducing stress is to cease associating with people who are negative or angry (University of Victoria Counselling Services, 2004). However, for some students this is not possible because bosses or family members could be the culprits and it would be difficult to extricate oneself from the social situation. In general, though, the techniques of stress reduction can be carried out with the result of better health and overall well being.
Positive self-talk and other mental health techniques can be especially useful for students. Keeping a thought diary or log of self-talk can help students recognize when they think thoughts of low self-esteem or self-hatred, and then learn how to correct those thoughts. Negative self-talk can be replaced with positive self-talk via cognitive-behavioral techniques. Seeing the school counselor is therefore a positive method of reducing stress and developing appropriate coping mechanisms. It may sometimes help to talk to a professional, who is unbiased and can offer resources and tools of stress management that do not involve unhealthy coping mechanisms. Drinking, drugs, and smoking may temporarily relieve stress but in the long run may exacerbate the problem because of the way substances react with the
Taking prescription medications should likewise be done cautiously, as it is better to develop habits of stress reduction.
Getting enough sleep and rest throughout the day are helpful in reducing the effects of stress. Similarly, practicing yoga, meditation, and other techniques of mind control can also help with stress reduction. There may be courses on campus that teach these techniques and others, like chi gung or tai chi. Exercise is also helpful, if not essential, for managing stress. Also, students need to pay attention to their diet and nutrition. Avoiding unhealthy coping mechanisms such as smoking, drinking, overeating, taking pills, getting too much sleep, and even procrastination can help students reduce stress levels (Smith & Segal, 2011). Procrastination makes stress worse, by piling up workloads. Therefore, students need to develop effective methods of time management. The university should offer students methods by which they can learn how to prioritize and manage time.
Students experiencing stress may also need to establish their priorities by setting long-term goals. Keeping in mind the end result can motivate students to excel even when workloads are exceptionally high. Setting aside time for leisure and social…
