Students often experience various degrees of stress in response to the demands placed on them by the academic environment. In most cases stress levels are directly related to major assignments and/or exams! Academic stress can manifest itself both in physical (e.g. headaches, tight muscles) and emotional (e.g. negativity, anxiety, discouragement) symptoms. It should be obvious that these things are not at all conducive to optimum academic performance. Managing stress effectively should therefore be a top priority for any student.
It should be noted that
‘managing stress’ is not the same thing as
‘eliminating stress’. Totally getting rid of stress is probably very close to impossible and perhaps not even desirable since low levels of stress can sometimes help us to function more effectively. Managing stress should rather be understood as dealing with stress in such a way that it does not interfere with your ability to do your work and/or with your emotional wellbeing.
The following are some very basic stress management techniques:
- Look after your body. Research has shown time and again that stress levels can be drastically reduced by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You should therefore ensure that you sleep enough, that you maintain a healthy diet and that you get enough exercise.
- Do not isolate yourself. Studying can sometimes be a very lonely experience since it includes, almost by definition, a lot of time spent on your own. You should, however, guard against your studies turning you into a hermit! Actively seek out ways in which you can connect socially to other people, including some people who are not studying with you at the moment. Sharing your life with others in this way will help you to see beyond your immediate, sometimes stressful, circumstances.
- Develop effective study techniques. A lot of academic stress is related to anxiety about exams and assignments. Sharpening your study skills to allow you to be better prepared for these events can therefore be an effective stress buster!
- Keep perspective. Your studies can sometimes become such a huge part of your life that you lose sight of the bigger picture. In such circumstances even a small test can assume almost ‘epic’ proportions in your own thinking. You should therefore strive very hard to keep perspective of the relative importance, or not, of whatever you are busy with at the moment. Being involved with extra-curricular activities can help you to do this.
- Seek professional help if necessary. If you suspect that your stress levels are such that it impedes your day-to-day functioning, or if you believe that it may be due to some other deep seated issue not related to your studies, you should seek professional help. Most educational institutions have student counselling departments that can act as a first port of call when seeking such help.