How to relieve stress in college

Choosing a college and a future profession is one of the most important steps in the life of a student, as it basically defines their future. Moving from your family home to campus is a responsible step - but can be stressful nonetheless.

A new home, new friends, a new society, new subjects—everything seems so unknown but equally exciting.

However, do not be nervous if you think that you are not 100% ready for this adult life, as everything gets better with time and experience.

You need some time to get used to your surroundings, and this period of time might go quicker than you expect.

Most students feel a little confused at the beginning of their education, as there is a lot of change and a lot to get used to, but there are numerous ways to get acquainted with your new life and become more familiar with it.

Attend extracurricular events

We recommend visiting events organized by other students as a way to meet your classmates and maybe some new friends.

Of course, you’ll need to attend on your own for the first time, but it’s the first step to finding some new friends to socialise with.

Just be yourself and try to feel free, as it is a great time in your life that will never repeat, so just enjoy it and have fun.

Making friendships is vital during your time at college, and you may even end up making lifelong friends.

Find a hobby

If you already have the activities and hobbies that help you feel relaxed, then now is the perfect time to go and sign up for them. Get involved!

Usually universities host events to promote the different clubs and societies on offer or alternatively it may be possible to sign up online. If you do not have any ideas for what activities you might like, then you should ask yourself what makes you feel happy and relieved.

You could sign up for yoga classes, join a book club, join cheerleading, a college sports team, or any other extracurriculars that your university might offer. Make sure that your new hobbies help you connect with other people in college as that will make your student life brighter.

Meditation

Meditation is one of the best ways to help you feel less stressed. Regular meditation can fill you with energy and inspiration.

You can turn on meditation on your smartphone in the morning or evening, in college during the break, whilst walking, and so on. Audio recorded meditation is the most readily available and provides you with a detailed tutorial on what you should do to relieve stress.

You can also write down and record your own meditation with the words and phrases that you would like to hear most at the moment. Meditations take some time to start working and becoming beneficial, so you will have to practice meditations for several weeks before you truly feel the results.

Get things well-organized

Planning is one of the most useful habits you can gain. Make sure that you plan your daily activities like waking up, morning exercise, college classes, activities after classes, meeting friends, attending events, and so on.

When you know what you are going to do during your day or week, you will have less spare time to feel bored or lonely. In the case that you have too much free time, you can think of new activities to do with your new friends.

Positive thinking

This is not something imaginary, it is a great skill that you should try to become proficient in. It is not an easy task to start thinking positively right away. To enhance this ability, you should follow what you are thinking about and try to banish all negative thoughts.

If you find yourself thinking negatively, it is important to acknowledge those thoughts and then attempt to replace them with a positive viewpoint.

Moreover, you could write down a list of positive affirmations and read them every morning to remind yourself of your goals and values in life. Additionally, read some books that teach self care and positive thinking so that you can learn a range of techniques.

It is also vital to wisely pick the literature you read, as not all books and articles you can find on the web or in libraries are worth paying attention to, so look at reviews and ratings.

Get support from your family

College is a big step in your adult life, but do not be afraid to ask for support from your family members. You could tell them about your worries and get some more personalised tips, or you could visit them more often.

Of course, your new friends can also back you in difficult moments, but nobody can calm you down better than your closest family.

To end

Try your best to watch your thoughts and do not get down if you don’t achieve your goals straight away.

Do the things that bring you joy and make you happy and the stress should start to fade. Ensure you reach out to mental health and support teams at university should you start to feel the stress is unmanageable.