Coping for College Students

By Desiree Vosburgh

College Students come from a variety of backgrounds, age groups and life stages. Whether you are in your first semester, last semester, or somewhere in between life can be stressful. College straight from high school is different, your professors have different expectations, often now on your own, figuring out this new world and experiences. Or maybe you are coming back to school after a decade or so of being out of it, you now have families or full time jobs and now have to find a balance between everything. All of this can be overwhelming and stressful.

Recently the middle of the semester just passed its halfway mark. Most likely you’ve taken your midterms and are waiting for your results. Remember you made it past that hurdle, you are doing well, just one step at a time. There are just as many ways to cope with anxiety and stress as there are things that cause it. SUNY Niagara has its Health & Wellness Center, located in C-122 consists of Health Services and Personal Counseling Services.

Sometimes reaching out for help can be stressful within itself, with thoughts of feeling like you aren’t doing well enough or that you just don’t feel comfortable reaching out. That’s okay, you don’t need to force yourself to do something you just aren’t comfortable with. Just know they are there for you as an option, they only want to help.

There are other things you can do to help outside of going to the wellness center as well. Daily meditation or yoga can help calm your mind and body. I personally like box breathing, no cardboard box required. You inhale for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts and repeat. Another thing you can do is engage in regular physical activity. You don’t have to be super buff or hang out in the gym 24/7. Just 7-15 minutes a day can help. Go for a walk, stretch out your limbs and muscles. You can do this in your rooms if you feel awkward being out in public as well.

Sometimes just talking to those you care about can help, it can reduce the emotional and mental pain that pushes down on you and help you feel supported and less alone. If you don’t feel comfortable with friends and family there are support groups with like minded individuals that have either gone through what you are going through or are currently going through the same things.

I am sure people have told you before to focus on self care and sleep. Easier said than done sometimes, I get that, but it does help. Start off smaller with maybe 3 minutes and work your way up to say 5 or ten minutes, and do something you enjoy or that relaxes you, just for you. Sleep is your body’s way of recovering and resetting for the day. My last small tips for you are setting boundaries and time management, and yes, sometimes both of these may take practice to see what works for your lifestyle and schedule. “ “Reduce stress by limiting social media usage and prioritizing tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed,” Mental Health at Cornell says. Saying “no” to excessive commitments and focusing on what you can control allows you to better manage your time and energy.”

There are so many different ways to help with stress. If something doesn’t help, do not be discouraged, try something else, stick to what works for you. What may work for someone else may not work for you, we are all different and that is okay. There are also many ways outside of what I said that may work for you as well. Don’t give up, you got this!