| Just three months ago, you were standing on stage, | | | | you have to work in order to support your studies. |
| receiving your high school diploma. The thrill of | | | | Your duties might be demanding, and the hours you |
| completing your high school education seems like a | | | | have to put in may be interfering with your sleep. You |
| distant memory, now that you are completing your first | | | | might also be dealing with the stress of having to get |
| month at college. | | | | along with difficult co-workers. |
| While you were excited about starting classes, you | | | | There is no way to eliminate all the stress involved in |
| never anticipated the amount of stress you would | | | | attending college. This time of your life will be inherently |
| encounter. At times, you might feel as if you will be | | | | stressful, no matter how you try to streamline your |
| buried alive by stress. | | | | schedule. However, there are some effective |
| You should know that the feeling of being stressed out | | | | techniques you can use to reduce your stress level so |
| is nothing unusual for a college student. To begin with, it | | | | that the pressures do not seem so overwhelming. |
| might be your first time away from home. You miss | | | | To begin with, you need to develop effective time |
| your parents, your brothers and sisters, your friends. | | | | management techniques. This means creating a |
| You miss the comfort of the family dwelling, the | | | | schedule and sticking with it. Be sure to build some |
| commemoration of birthdays and other special events. | | | | relaxation time into your schedule. That way, you can |
| You might even miss the extra-curricular activities you | | | | ensure that you are getting an appropriate amount of |
| enjoyed at your high school. | | | | rest and exercise. |
| There is the stress of trying to do well in academically | | | | One thing that can add to your stress level is weight |
| challenging college classes. You might feel | | | | gain. College is famous for the Freshman 15,or adding |
| overwhelmed by the amount of reading you have to | | | | 15 pounds to one's frame during the first year of |
| do. | | | | classes. In order to combat this, try to eliminate |
| You might not have developed strong study skills in | | | | unhealthy snacks such as potato chips and cookies. |
| high school, leading to greater stress at college. You | | | | Try to limit your diet to lean meats and fish, fruits, |
| may even find it difficult finding a place to study | | | | vegetables, and whole grains. Try whenever possible |
| especially if you're not used to spending long periods of | | | | to avoid eating at parties. And don't overindulge in |
| time in the library. | | | | alcohol, which can add an appreciable amount of |
| You might also be dealing with the stress of having to | | | | weight. In this way, you can try to protect yourself |
| live with roommates for the first time. Your | | | | against excessive weight gain. |
| roommates might not share your values, your interests, | | | | College is one of the most memorable periods in |
| or even your sleeping patterns. If you have more than | | | | anyone's life. The knowledge you gain can be |
| one roommate, you might feel outnumbered. If you | | | | incredible. You can forge friendships which will last a |
| were an only child, you might not be used to the stress | | | | lifetime. You might find your mate, or develop a life-long |
| involved in sharing a bathroom or a common study | | | | hobby. And yet, college is a time fraught with tension. |
| area. | | | | You have to please your professors, your roommates, |
| Also, you might be dealing with the stress of your first | | | | your friends, and employers. You have to take on adult |
| serious relationship. You might not know how to handle | | | | responsibilities for the first time, such as paying your |
| conflict effectively. And you might be wondering | | | | bills. Each day is filled with a myriad of stresses. |
| whether you have become too serious too soon with | | | | However, by building in appropriate coping techniques |
| your boyfriend or girlfriend. Also, finding the time to | | | | into your daily schedule, you can develop the skills you |
| spend together can be a real challenge, given all the | | | | need to handle stress effectively. In the end, you might |
| other demands on your time. | | | | earn a grade of A for your stress management ability. |
| You might also be stressed out by the part-time job | | | | |