The life of a student can turn into chaos over the college years.
With a few stress relief tips and tools, students can learn better study skills and can better prepare for exams. Students can learn to minimize their school stress levels to make college easier.
“I worry about tests because I need a good grade to keep my financial aid available,” said Eric Salomon current SLCC student.
Stress is the body’s reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response. Stress can come from any situation or thought that creates feelings of frustration, anger or anxiety.
“I never thought to look up ways to overcome stress,” said Salomon.
It is important to have plenty of time to work on each subject to do well. Time management will save students a lot of stress.
Setting up a schedule for studies and breaking up studies into smaller chunks also will alleviate stress.
Students should have a system of organization for note taking, keeping track of assignments, and other important papers. Being organized can bring students the peace of mind that comes from knowing where everything is, remembering deadlines and test dates.
If students want their performance to be optimal they need to be well-rested. Research shows that students who are sleep-deprived have more trouble learning and remembering and also perform more poorly in many areas.
“I’ve noticed if I rest well a night before a test I actually do better on tests,” said current SLCC student Romina Campos. Work a schedule so you get enough sleep or take power naps.
Not all students learn in the same way, it’s important to know whether a student is a visual, kinesthetic or auditory learner. Students can tailor their study practices around their particular learning style and make success easier to attain.
Student’s stress can be reduced in many ways. One way to reduce stress and improve test performance is by taking a few minutes each day to visualize, in detail, one’s goals–whether it’s giving a presentation without getting nervous, acing an exam or something else that will support a student’s success.
Stress can affect both body and mind. Students under large amounts of stress can become tired, sick, and unable to concentrate or think clearly.
“School is always stressful but you have to be prepared for any tests in life,” Campos said.
One of the healthiest ways to blow off steam is to get a regular exercise program.
Students can easily work exercise into their schedules by doing yoga in the morning, walking or biking to campus or reviewing for tests with a friend while walking on a treadmill at the gym.
“Exercise helps me stay in shape and healthy so I feel good about myself,” Salomon said.
Music can help students relieve stress and stimulate their mind. Students can harness the benefits of music by playing classical music while studying, playing upbeat music to wake up mentally or relaxing with the help of the student’s favorite slow melodies.
“I listen to music to relax, it allows me to concentrate better on my studies,” said Campos.
Stress can be effectively recognized and managed. The key is to understand each student’s personal signs of stress, select a few techniques to manage stress, and then consistently use those techniques.
The more prepared students are, the less stressed students will be.