They are perhaps one of the most neglected groups in our culture. We enjoy our babies, toddlers and children. We stay awake all night worrying about our teenagers. But it seems that once young adults are shipped out of the nest to college, they are, for the most part, on their own. These young adults deal with their own level of stress. When it comes to stress management, college students are perhaps the most in need. Read below for the stress management areas college students need to focus on.
Financial Stress Management
Going to college is expensive, and it’s not just the tuition, room and board that makes it that way. It’s the outings and the gas and the books that add up to a major expense. Many college students find that they must help in the payment of their college expenses. Most of these students work a part-time job or two to help pay for college costs. The time that is focused on making money steals time away from academics, whether it is intended or not. For financial stress management, college students need to balance their time wisely and watch their budget carefully.
The Stress of Schoolwork
In addition to financial stress, stress management in college also relates to schoolwork. Students tend to be shocked during their first rounds of testing by the vast difference between college expectations and high school expectations. Homework can no longer be avoided or halfway done, and great attention must be paid to detail. In regards to academic stress management, college students need to plan and budget their time wisely. Purchasing a planner helps, but students also need to gain an understanding of the amount of time it takes them to complete assignments. Working with the instructor can help insure that the student doesn’t wait till the last minute to begin working on an assignment.
The Extracurricular Overload
In addition to the stress school work and the stress of finances, college students also have extracurricular groups and events they may want or feel the need to get involved in. These may be fraternities, sororities, volunteer organizations, sports teams, music groups etc. Overloading on these activities can cause the college student to be overwhelmed. The more the student is involved in, the less time and energy can be given to any one activity. The student may feel that he or she is “not good” at any of the things he or she is doing because none of the activities has the center of his or her attention. The rule of thumb for extracurricular stress management for college students is to remember to be selective in the activities they pile on their plates.
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