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Sources of stress for students
No kidding, I have been reading for 25 years! What I want to say about student life is that it can be really stressful sometimes! Especially during the weeks of exams and the transition period between graduation and further studies. Below I have listed a few common sources of student stress management.
Coursework and Exams
Many people think that high school is stressful. However, in North America, the course load of college will be significantly greater than that of high school. In addition, assignments and exams are often spread out over a period of several weeks. There is often a feeling of not having enough time.
Pressure to succeed student stress management
Do you feel pressure to succeed? Most people do. Externally, parents, friends, teachers, classmates, and the entire society all have expectations for us. Internally, we also have certain expectations and requirements for ourselves. We set goals for ourselves to meet these expectations, and sometimes we overwhelm ourselves with goals that are too high or unrealistic.
Transition period
High school and college are transitional years. Students in this period are entering early adulthood and facing unprecedented new responsibilities and challenges. You may have to make a choice about your future; you may live away from home for the first time; or you may find that your parents and former friends are not around when you encounter difficulties, and you are helpless.
Interpersonal relationships
Difficulties in close relationships can cause stress. However, any relationship at home, school, or work can cause additional stress. While caring and supportive relationships protect and heal us, toxic and unhealthy relationships can add insult to injury and be destructive.
How students manage stress
In order to better cope with stress and develop healthily, students need to build a good foundation of physical and mental health (through nutrition, sleep, and exercise) and learn to manage time and stress.
Students reassured about the importance of nutrition
Our bodies and brains require an adequate supply of nutrients to function properly. Moreover, for students who are still growing, their nutritional needs are even greater. If we are undernourished, we may grow slowly, feel lethargic and energetic, have poor memory, and have difficulty functioning our brains.
General advice on student diet and habits:
- A good day starts with breakfast! Eating breakfast can boost your energy and metabolism at the start of the day;
- Don’t skip meals. Even if you need to lose weight, start with a balanced, healthy diet and exercise;
- A balanced diet includes lots of whole grains, protein, vegetables, and fruits. Eat less high-sugar snacks and junk food;
- Snacks are mainly nuts, milk, vegetables dipped in hummus, and fruits;
- Limit caffeine and alcohol intake. Try to limit it to no more than one cup of coffee or wine per day;
- Water is your regular drink.
The importance of sleep for students
Sleep isn’t just for the body to rest and repair, it’s critical for our memory processing, learning, and emotional regulation. Many students study hard the night before the exam, or even stay up all night. Is this really good for our memory and test scores? Not necessarily. Research, it was found that getting a good night’s sleep before a test is positively correlated with better test scores.
General advice for students about sleep:
- Good sleep hygiene. One hour before going to bed, turn off electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers, and do some low-stimulation activities, such as reading, bathing, meditating, and writing in a diary;
- Set a fixed time every day to ensure 8 hours of high-quality sleep;
- Study in advance to prepare for the exam, leaving the day before the exam only for review. This can achieve better memory retention and leave time for a good sleep;
- If you don’t have enough time to study and have to sacrifice sleep time, it is recommended that you take a short 20-30 minute nap while studying (power naps), can help you clear your mind and consolidate your memory. Before the exam, no matter how long it takes, it is best to take a nap.
The importance of students persisting in exercise
Exercise is good for your mind and body! Exercise is also an important tool for stress management. There were physical education requirements in high school, but after entering college, I mostly exercised on my own. Lack of daily exercise will make you feel physically and mentally insufficient to cope with the challenges of study and life.
General advice on exercise for students:
- Exercise for at least 150 minutes per week. This could be 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, or 50 minutes a day, 3 days a week. Moderate-intensity exercise is sufficient, such as jogging, swimming, or cycling;
- Find a partner to exercise with;
- When you’re stressed, keep exercising instead!
Student time management
A large part of students’ stress comes from time pressure. We need to squeeze a lot of work into this busy schedule. Many times, although you feel that you don’t have enough time, in fact, time can be better allocated, managed and used more efficiently.
Time management tips for students:
- At the beginning of each semester, add known assignment deadlines and exam dates to your calendar and planner. Set reminders 1-2 weeks in advance;
- When you receive a reminder, set a time to complete the task that needs to be completed;
- Set aside time for the unexpected. If your homework or study assignment takes one day, plan for two days. Always set aside at least a day to allow yourself room for unexpected events;
- Try the Pomodoro Technique (Tomato timer app) or take a short break (power naps) to help you stay focused and productive.
How do students relieve stress?
I have prepared a simple guide to help students get started quickly, called “Five Quick Ways to Relieve Stress.” No matter how busy you are, you can always find a few minutes to do these quick stress-busters.
Finally, ask for help!
We all have times when we need the help of others. There are often counselors and consultants in schools and colleges. Many also have student support groups and various student associations. Tutoring is also common.Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. If you need some professional health and medical help, you can make an appointment with us Free consultation phone Come find out what we can do for you.
statement: This website only provides information for reference purposes and cannot replace the diagnosis and treatment suggestions of professional medical personnel. Please click for details here.