Kim Schneider, Sophomore Mass Communications Journalism and English Writing
Emotional
Anxiety and Stress Management Through Finals and Beyond The life of a college student is nothing like how it is perceived in movies and TV shows. Our days are not filled with constant partying and barely any homework—our lives can actually be incredibly stressful.
Left and Opposite: Stressed Students (Marie McMahon)
Many students, including myself, have a very hard time not having a mental breakdown when faced with an important test, project, or paper. Sometimes all of these can be within the same week, if not the same day. Numerous college students also have jobs or are involved with clubs on top of the constant schoolwork. According to Winona State University counselor Eunie Alsaker, the major stressors students generally deal with are academics, roommate conflict, ending of a relationship, parental conflict, the death of someone close to them, and personal illness or an illness of someone close to them. These are just the top stressors of many taken from a health assessment survey from 2012. With so many possible areas of stress, it’s no wonder students are usually on edge. “Students who manage stress well seek positive support and resources on campus,” said Alsaker.
Wellzine
December/January 2014
Once students get to this point, it can be very difficult to manage the anxiety that goes along with these stressors. Just remember, stress is inevitable during finals week.
Alsaker also mentioned that it is good not to do everything on your own, and that it is okay to need and ask for help. Stress also needs to be recognized as a part of everyday life but don’t forget to be grateful for the positive things in your life either. It is important to be aware of negative influences, but to not constantly focus on them. As if daily stressors weren’t enough, finals are just around the corner. Finals usually add even more stress to the already over-crowded plate of a college student. “When there is one stress, it can become a magnet for other stresses, making it worse,” said Alsaker.
Luckily some of this stress and anxiety is in our control. We can limit stress and anxiety by planning ahead, being organized, and setting attainable goals. Focus on what you can do at the moment, and what you have control over. It is also essential to have positive self-talk like: “I can do this,” and “One thing at a time.” Alsaker suggests getting plenty of sleep the night before an exam and having a good breakfast the following morning. Simple fixes like these that are in your control can help ease the enormous amounts of anxiety and stress that go along with finals, said Alsaker. If students are looking for more help with managing anxiety and stress, Alsaker recommends the four-week Anxiety Management Seminar offered twice each semester by Winona State. The next one is scheduled for early spring semester—watch the calendar for dates.
Can you feel the stress of finals building up in your muscles? Make your own stress ball to help combat that stress! All you need is a balloon and flour. Simply fill the balloon with flour and tie at the top. According to Livestrong.com, stress balls help relieve muscle tension, stimulate the nerves, and divert your attention away from your stress. These little stress-relievers are also small enough to fit in your pocket or backpack, so you can take them anywhere.
Just remember that stress is an inevitable part of our lives as college students. However, we can adopt stress and anxiety management skills that will help us achieve any goal in the future.
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