Stress Less: 5 Steps for Stressed Out Students
Hi, I’m Bri Kniery! As a senior in college, I know what it is like to be a stressed out student with new responsibilities, getting used to new classes, building a new routine, and all the things in between. Stress is normal. However it doesn’t have to be your default mode. In this blog, I will outline a five-step process to manage your stress, be more productive, and manage your workload so you can spend less time worrying and more time enjoying your college experience.
What does the term stressed truly mean? Stress is “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances”. It is so easy to build up stress in college because you have so much going on with joining university organizations, greek life, new classes, etc. it is very easy to feel overwhelmed.
Stress also makes external conditions seem daunting because you are met with overwhelming demands and pressure to find an internship, pay for school, among other things. However, you can lessen that stress and feel you have a grasp on college life.
5 Ways to Not Be The Stressed Out Student - C.U.R.B.L Method:
When you are a stressed out student, it can feel like there is no end in sight. I’ve been there and that is why I created the C.U.R.B.L method. Don’t worry, it is student-friendly and is an easy five-step process to help you slow down and feel relaxed again. C.U.R.B.L stands for creating a focused environment, using time as your friend, rewarding progress, breaking down large tasks, and learning and moving on. Each step will help you stop the cycle of stress and be able to breathe again.
1. Create a Focused Environment - Your workspace is important and should reflect your motivation to get work done. So as cliche as it may sound - do not make your bed your workspace. Instead go to a coffee shop or meet with a friend to make it more fun. Work does not have to be this horrible thing so by creating a productive work environment you are more likely to get into the headspace of working and get the job done.
2. Use Time as Your Friend Not Your Enemy - Use your time wisely and intentionally. Time is only your enemy when you are racing against the clock (aka cramming last minute). To avoid this, take advantage of little bits of time in your day to work on assignments or planning how you are going to achieve your goals.
3. Reward Your Progress Not Perfection - No one expects you to be perfect in college because you are still learning so don’t expect that of yourself. It is easy to be negative towards yourself but by being so negative on yourself, it actually is unmotivating you and stressing you out more. Learn to forgive yourself for past mistakes. The past doesn’t define you so keep moving forward and not back. Also using positive or healthy self-talk can reduce being a stressed out student. Instead of saying “I need to” or “I have to” think of phrases that empower you. Aim for “good enough”. There are benefits to using healthy self talk such as lower levels of depression and distress and you can actually live longer.
4. Break Down Big Tasks into Small Tasks - Completing tasks can be daunting in college because you have so much more time to complete the tasks and no one is hovering over you. Using a planner or assignment tracker can also help you keep track of your busy life and be less overwhelmed. Instead of looking at the whole project or assignment, break it down piece by piece.
5. Learn and Move On - Be generous with yourself. You are still in the learning stages of your life and you are going to falter at some points. As a stressed out student it is hard not to focus on the negatives but you need to also focus on the positives. So you procrastinated one assignment that doesn’t mean you should give up and get down on yourself. Instead realize that hey it's ok and I can do better next time. Learn from what you did wrong so you don’t repeat the same mistakes and you’ll improve automatically.
My Personal Experience
From personal experience, I constantly overthink every day with assignments, due dates, and everyday life. There are times where I feel so burnt out I want to just close my laptop and never open it again. Along with that, I feel unproductive when I am not doing work where those negative thoughts creep in that I’m a failure or shouldn’t be at college.
These are all normal feelings but you have to learn to cope with those feelings and learn from them. Sometimes it is healthy to take a step back and focus on something else. This is why using time as your friend comes into play because if you organize your assignments and due dates you can allocate time to yourself whether that is doing laundry, going to eat with your friends, or just taking a walk, you are preparing yourself to tackle the task in a better way.
At the end of the day, stress does not define you – it is just something you have to learn to overcome. College life can be chaotic and feel like too much but by using the C.U.R.B.L method along with doing self-care, it can be easily conquered. By breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable ones, rewarding your progress, being nice to yourself, using time wisely, and having a focused work environment you will no longer be the stressed out student. So take a deep breath, use C.U.R.B.L, and you got this!!
