How To Manage The Stress Of Studying For Your Degree

In 2018, the Natwest Student Living Index showed that about 64% of university students believe stress is a significant part of studying. At the same time, other scholars had established that approximately 82% of students in UK universities were victims of anxiety and stress. Many have suffered from other mental health challenges, yet the number keeps increasing. Today, there are hosts of students worldwide who are dropping out of school.

According to The National Union of Students, there are three major causes of stress among students. First are the strict deadlines for submitting assignments, followed by exams, and lastly, the need to balance schoolwork and other commitments. Some of these students leave home to stay far away for the first time. This means increased costs with little available money, poor diet, and limited sleeping time. However, you can make your school life more comfortable by following the below practices.

Talk or Write About It

Joining a university disrupts your social circle when you are enrolled far away from home. This means you are cut off from your family and friends who make up your social support. Lack of frequent visits and chats could cause stress. In this situation, do not suppress your feelings. Instead, pick up a pen and journal your feelings down. This is a proven way to relieve anxiety since it serves as an escape or emotional release of negative thoughts.

Stay Organised

Lack of control over a situation can amount to stress, especially in a school setting. For a university student pursuing a degree program, exams and coursework define your schedule. Sometimes, you may be required to participate in co-curricular activities, which can be a burden if you are not organised. Proper time management will allow you to meet deadlines, complete tasks, and revisions promptly, and avoid the last-minute rush. Rebecca Sharp, a psychologist from the University of Bangor, emphasises that you can stay on top of your university work by breaking down an enormous task into small and more manageable portions.

Be Mindful

Being mindful simply means listening to your feelings and paying attention to your surroundings. This way, you will discover any causes or signs of stress early enough to deal with them. Mindfulness is a state which you acquire through practice, but you can still be mindful even without any training. Mindfulness also applies to even the things that you take pleasure in. For example, if you love socialising, you should be careful of the friends you allow into your space. This is because they can highly influence your character.

On the other hand, if you prefer to spend time playing online gambling games, you should also limit how much time you dedicate to it and make sure you are playing on safe platforms. Ideally, you can check out online guides on the best online gambling platforms and what to look out for in a secure UK site. Here, you can also get reviews of the best slots and other games as well as all the best bonuses including free spins. However, for college students below 18 years, you can explore online educational games such as quiz challenges and card games.

Look After Yourself

The first few weeks at the university are pretty challenging. Most students have a poor diet because they do not have a plan on how they will cook. This leads to poor eating habits. No doubt that the sleeping patterns will also change, and you may not rest for the eight recommended hours. This can be the start of poor performance because lack of sleep amounts to stress.

As soon as you report to the school, familiarise yourself with your new environment. Also, have a plan for eating healthy meals and creating a proper sleeping schedule. Moreover, do not forget to exercise regularly. Even on a limited budget, try to eat a balanced diet; meals with plenty of vegetables and fruits are recommended as they can help optimise brain function. It is advisable to stay away from fatty snacks and sugary foods that have devastating impacts on your physical and mental wellbeing.