ADD: Getting Through College With The Least Stress
If you are a college student, you know the feeling. You probably stay up all night studying, cramming in notes as fast as you can and feeling like your brain is going to explode. By midterm week, it feels like every class is on an entirely different level from the others, and you're struggling to keep up with anything. Navigating through all this feels downright impossible.
What can you do? Yes, you most likely need to do some studying. But the fact is that your GPA depends on more than just what you can cram into your head over the short period of time before exams. It also depends on how much stress you endure and how well you deal with it. The following tips will help you be less stressed and get better grades:
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"Seeking support from friends" seems like a pretty basic thing to do, but often this is the first place students stop looking for solutions to their problems when they should be seeking support from professors and counselors as well.
Some students have figured out how to get help from one or two professors, but for the great majority of college students, this is a very difficult thing to do. So, what exactly should you do?
The first thing you need to do is take advantage of all the support systems available to you . From psychological counseling, various clubs and organizations and even special classes for students with different types of disorders.
These are great places for both personal and professional development. Better yet, if you're struggling in school it may be because you're dealing with something that needs professional attention .
Don't be afraid to go back to your professor or counselor and ask why he/she believes that your average C in every class isn't bad enough.
You need to be honest with yourself and your professors, and sometimes this means accepting that there's a problem before you can solve it.
If you don't feel like sharing your feelings with someone else, it doesn't mean you're going crazy. Many students find that they simply don't know what they're dealing with or even how to describe exactly what they're feeling. The truth is that this is normal.
There are certain things college students shouldn't be afraid of stating clearly: "I'm having trouble concentrating," "I feel like I have no motivation," "I'm so tired." You don't have to analyze everything; in fact, that's the last thing you need if you want to get through college without stress .
Feelings are important, and they will help you better understand what's bothering you. In the end, you can only do so much on your own; the last thing you want to happen is to suddenly discover that your grades have dropped drastically.
A college education and good grades depend on more than just your extra-curricular activities – they also depend on how well you take care of yourself and how much time spent learning you actually have.
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There's a common saying among college students: "I'm not stressed because I'm studying ALL THE TIME." While this might be true for some students, it doesn't necessarily mean that others won't get stressed out.
Let's be honest here: no matter what you do, you're going to have to deal with stress. Some things might be more stressful than others, but that doesn't mean that they don't need to be dealt with.
So let's see what you can actually do about it.
The first thing you should do is make sure that you're actually getting enough sleep . Just because some of your friends say they're sleeping for the entire weekend doesn't necessarily mean that's how much sleep you should be getting.
You might not be able to fall asleep at ten in the morning, but if your alarm goes off at two in the afternoon , go ahead and hit snooze . You're going to need that extra hour of rest .
You should also try to avoid drinking caffeine . If you're a coffee drinker, switching from one cup of coffee to two or three a day will surely affect your ability to concentrate. Try adding more water instead and see if that helps.
Another tip is to reduce stress with some yoga . While you shouldn't do it every single night, it's still an excellent way of releasing some energy and getting rid of tension.
For some people, sometimes the best solution is simply to get away from home and spend some time on campus with nobody else there but you.
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By now, you probably know that not all colleges have the same academic culture. What you might not realize is that your school might also have its own culture of stress and this can affect your studying habits as well.
You can't be stressed out if you're afraid of doing something wrong, or if you constantly worry about something failing or being wrong. In order to get through college feeling less stress , you should take on some of the following tips:
# 1 – Do your homework ahead of time . A lot of students worry about how much time they'll need to finish something before it's due . This creates a lot of stress and adds to the amount of work you need to do at the last minute.
# 2 – Take the necessary time to study your subject . If you're taking a lab course, for instance, it's often hard for students to find enough time in the week for all of their studies. In that case, remember that you're not going to absorb information by studying constantly .
# 3 – Don't take on more than you can handle . You might have your heart set on doing well in all classes, but if your schedule is already packed full and you feel like there are too many things due at once, remember that it's OK to ask for help.
# 4 – Don't be afraid to ask for help . Going back to your professor or professor's assistant and asking them if they can help you understand something might not always be easy, but you'll often discover that their willingness to help can actually save you some time.
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With all the stress that comes with being a student, it's understandable if you're not sleeping well. Still, it's essential to get enough rest so you can take care of your body and mind. Here are some tips that will teach you how:
Get up an hour earlier each day so that you have time for a workout . Not only will exercise help you sleep better, but it'll also help you see things from a different perspective . You'll have time to think about what's going on in your life and clear your head.
# 2 – Make your bedroom a place where you can relax . A dark room, some soft music and pajamas are all you need for a good night's sleep.
# 3 – Turn off any technology when it's time to sleep . While it might be hard at first, remember that staring at a screen before bed won't make you feel tired. In fact, the light (even if it doesn't bother you) will affect your brain and make it harder to fall asleep.
Conclusion
Because college is full of stressful situations, it's easy to get stressed out. Still, there are plenty of ways to fight back. You don't even have to throw in the towel and quit; you just need some tips on how to make life easier.
# 1 – Be realistic about your goals . Maybe you want a 4.0 GPA, but if you could barely pass the classes at high school level , it might not be possible for you with little effort on your part . Your first goal should always be that of getting an education .
# 2 – Talk to someone if things aren't going well . Last but not least, it's normal to feel afraid or overwhelmed at times when facing new challenges.