Medline Plus defines Stress as, "A feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stress is your body's reaction to a challenge or demand." (Stress and Your Health, n.d.) Stress can happen due to happy events like a wedding or birth of a child, or sad events like the death of a loved one or a car accident. Whether the stress was caused by a happy or sad event, the feeling of being overwhelmed is familiar for many people.

If you're finding yourself feeling overwhelmed and stressed out due to your extra workload as a student, or your personal life: don't worry, you are not alone. Although sometimes unpleasant, Stress is a completely normal part of life and there are many strategies to help you cope. MayoClinic suggests that those suffering from stress try "The 4 A's of Stress Management". To learn about the 4 A's please check out the following infographic adapted from sources listed at the bottom of the page.

One of the most important ways to minimize physical and mental stress, is to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. While getting enough sleep can be challenging as a new college student, it is vital your long-term health and success both in and outside the classroom. In order to get enough sleep you might need to give up some late night Netflix viewing, plan your meals for earlier in the day, and set your phone to a "do not disturb" setting after a certain time each evening. All of these suggestions can help you to maintain a balanced schedule and make it easier to have an established bedtime. 

For more tips and tricks about how to get better quality sleep, or just to learn how important it is to your overall well-being, check out the following infographics and resources adapted from the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

Sleep

Receiving an average of 8 hours of quality sleep per night is an important part of overall health and academic success. The benefits of sufficient sleep are numerous, especially for students, as sleep is essential for increased memory consolidation, learning, decision making, and critical thinking. Studies show that students who receive 7-9 hours of sleep had higher grade point averages than students who didn’t get 7-9 hours of sleep regularly. Read more here:

 https://www.healthyhorns.utexas.edu/HT/HT_sleep.html

College is sometimes described as "a marathon, not a sprint". Pursuing a degree is one of the biggest investments of time, money, and resources that a person can make. It's no surprise that the hectic schedule and demands of 2-4 years of coursework can leave students feeling burnt-out and in many cases lacking the passion that started them down the initial path to their degrees.

Another potential problem is digital burn-out. While we live in an ever-evolving and even more closely connected digital world than ever before, the lack of boundaries that exist and the pressure that goes with being available 24/7 can add to the mental load of burn-out. This is why experts recommend taking digital breaks and time away from your devices to recharge in nature or with loved ones.

Stress and Your Health

College Stress - Harvard Medical School

Change Your Mind To Change Your Stress

Stress Management

Alternative Approaches to Stress

Natural Sleep Aids: Home Remedies to Help You Sleep 

A Guide to Sleeping for College Students

Sleep: Your Energy 401(k)

Getting a Good Night's Sleep