Most of the time, students find themselves engaging in activities that help them cope with the stress of college. Some of these include overeating, getting emotional or trying new relaxing experiences. Sadly, some of the students start to get involved with harmful activities that dissociate them from their anxiety.
But what does stress really mean? Encyclopaedia Britannica defines stress as any physical or environmental change that causes pressure in an organism, which consequently produces a response on the being in order to survive. Therefore, we can assume the stress we feel during exams, near due dates or while studying is emotional and, thus, we can deal with it in a very proactive way.
We must remind ourselves college is a stressful time period and a challenge we assumed. It will get hard and hectic at times, because occasionally things in our personal life might interfere, but we must constantly remember not to give in or to quit.
Unfortunately, many people tend to let their emotions take over their logic and affect their decision-making. Students’ test scores drop, they make wrong choices and, in some cases, they fall into a downward spiral of chaos: for example, partying excessively due to a stressful week, drinking a larger-than-normal amount of alcohol to numb the emotional exhaustion and then driving home in an intoxicated state.
In the best-case scenario, DUIs will affect students’ records. In the worst-case scenario, this bad decision could harm people’s lives permanently.
However, there are many other ways we can ease the anxiety and, in the meantime, give back to the community, gain some experience and learn some useful skills.
As humans, we find comfort in habit and routine. Because the stress we are dealing with is, in a way, self-executed and caused by our own reactions, we can reduce our stress by engaging in better habits. Doing so produces a counteracting effect against stress, and eventually you can flow through due dates with a better state of mind.
By challenging yourself to get involved with activities you have never done before, you dare your brain to engage new information and let go for a while. For example, if you are taking a chemistry class, take the challenge of getting involved with a sport like running. During your route, try to correlate familiar objects, such as a stop sign, to carbon structures you learned in class.
Try to always stay proactive, and don’t allow procrastination to take over your day. Change your mentality, and set work goals and break periods for yourself. For example, if you have Monday off and homework due Friday, just put in the time early on and motivate yourself with a big reward over the weekend.
In addition, remember to control your intake of chemical substances that might interfere with the chemistry inside you. In other words, avoid excess of everything: Your body will always resist and respond to the effects from those substances.
Stay positive and calm with your head held high. This is a learning process, and it is OK to feel the pressure. Seek help, tutoring, professional aid, friends’ advice and family care if you feel you need support and assistance. Don’t worry. You can do this.
Andrea Taboada is UF a microbiology senior. Her column appears on Wednesdays.
