Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-442-6062

Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-925-2803

"I'm living on cigarettes and Pepsi."
"I've had two hours sleep in the past two days."
"It's only a week since we got back from break and I need a vacation."
"I can't handle all this  

Stress

 !"

If you're like most high school seniors, you may be feeling a little stressed lately. You've got classes, a full plate of Extra Curricular Activities, a part-time job, and always an exam to study for, an essay to be written, or an application form that needs to be filled out. You probably suspect, too, that the first year of College won't spell r-e-l-i-e-f. You'll have to deal with an entirely new living situation and social scene on top of the usual stress. Needless to say, the prospect of college may be making you a little nervous.

We admit, there is a lot of stress involved in the transition from high school to college. On the bright side, however, there are a number of things you can do to keep it from dragging you down.

Get a handle on stress before it gets a handle on you. Here's how...Sleep City
Sleep deprivation is a common cause of stress that can cause physical duress and undermine your health and well-being. Lack of sleep can also increase irritability and lead to poor concentration that may impair your learning ability.

Do these symptoms sound familiar? You're not alone. "High school and college students are among the most sleep-deprived people in our population," says Dr. James B. Maas, psychology professor at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and author of the book, Power Sleep (HarperCollins, 1998). He also states that you need an average of eight to 10 hours of sleep per night to avoid the dire results of sleep deprivation. But, all-night cram sessions often do not allow that.

Fortunately for the busy student, it's acceptable to get some of this sleep in the form of short daytime naps. While this 'sunlight-shuteye' cannot substitute for regularly scheduled nightly sleep, power naps of about 20 minutes can help refresh and invigorate you before you deal with a potentially stressful task.

What's Eating You?!
Another factor that can directly impact your level of stress is your diet. With so much to do, it may seem more efficient to grab a snack than sit down to a 'real' meal. That's why many college students end up living on junk food. Remember though: "You are what you eat!"

In the long run, the excess sugar and caffeine in many snacks can make it hard for you to concentrate and learn, and can cause crankiness that makes bad situations worse. If you're in the habit of munching quickie snacks, stock healthy ones like fruits and vegetables in your study area instead of chips or candy.

Time Clock 101
You've slept, you've eaten, you're as healthy as a horse. How else can you prevent stress? Learn to manage your time. According to Debbi Share of Cornell University's peer-counseling network, EARS, time management is the single most important skill for incoming college freshmen. That means keeping abreast of deadlines rather than letting them creep up on you-we all know there's nothing more stressful than when a critical due date pops up right in front of you, like a serial killer in a horror film. Translation? Give yourself a realistic amount of time to accomplish what you need to do. Don't expect to be superhuman.

It also means knowing when to say no, so as not to overload any one part of your schedule. Realize when you sign up for College Courses that for each hour spent in class you'll be spending even more hours on homework. If you're a slow reader and your courses are literature intensive, take that into account. Also, try to enroll in at least one "fun" class every semester rather than loading up on subjects you find draining.

Likewise, don't take on too much in the extra curricular department. Sure, clubs and activities look good on your college applications, and once you get to college there will be an array of activities for you to participate in. But, if you try to do everything, you'll choke. Go to as many introductory meetings that strike your fancy, and then narrow your choices down to a few organizations you really love. Don't feel obligated to keep up with them all.

Go For Your Goals
Lastly, you can prevent stress by setting goals and going for them. It's much easier to deal with obstacles when you can see the final goal clearly in your own mind. Day-to-day hassles can seem overwhelming if the only thing keeping you going is your parents' expectations or the vague idea that you'll make good money someday. Pick a major that sparks your enthusiasm. Then, once you get to college, if you find you've made a mistake, don't be afraid to change. Set your own realistic standards for schoolwork and grades instead of relying on others' approval or disapproval.

Even if you follow all this advice to the letter, there will still be times when stress will have you feeling like you're coming undone. Circumstances can conspire against you, and some people and situations will make you nervous or grind you down.

When it comes to dealing with stress on the spot, there are a few guidelines that help almost everyone:

1. Don't overreact. Debbi Share of EARS puts it well when she says that students need to "realize how things work out in the long run. Even a bad final isn't the end of the world."

2. Take a step back from the situation. For many students, taking a break, a walk, or a long shower is helpful in dealing with a stressful situation. "I try to get outside when I'm stressed about school and look at the stars," says Amanda Watson of Ithaca High School. A little meditation or quiet reflection can also put things in perspective.

3. Deal with the physical symptoms of stress. "Yoga is the best for dealing with stress," says Dave Michel, a Cornell junior. "If you don't know yoga, just stretch whatever muscles feel tense." If you find yourself experiencing major fight-or-flight symptoms, slow, deep breathing can help calm your heart rate and keep your respiration down.

4. Don't be ashamed to ask for help. You don't have to do everything yourself. Your friends and family know at least part of what you're going through, since they've all experienced stress themselves. If you're feeling isolated or depressed, talk to a counselor. Many schools even have telephone counseling services for those who feel that making an actual appointment would be just one more pressure in an already packed schedule. Familiarize yourself with the counseling resources available at your school even if you feel that you will never need them.

Sound Off! Post Your Comments