The second week of classes is already upon us, and that can only mean one thing: Summer is coming to a close. Summer is a time of relaxation and rejuvenation, a time to rest and prepare for a healthy school year. Luckily for students here in Malibu, summer often seems to extend into the back-to-school season. With friends, the beach and perfect weather, the continuation of summer ease is almost natural.
However, at some point within the next few weeks, the onset of homework, exams and deadlines will become evident. Don’t stress out! Each student feels the same academic pressure from time to time in college. Hard work, dedication and the determination to build good study habits are only natural in university life. Feeling a little overwhelmed happens to all students, but being able to handle these feelings in a productive and positive way is something everyone can continue to improve.
It may seem like stress is difficult to cope with, but managing one’s busy schedule is an important skill to master in college.
As the World of Psychology’s associate editor Margarita Tartakovsky said, “Stress is inevitable … and it can easily walk all over us unless we take action. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to minimize and cope with stress.” Well her name is Margarita, so she must know how to have some fun! She suggests individuals relax and understand the source of our stress. Once people identify their stressors, they must realize they cannot control everything. If a stressor is something that can be controlled, a person should use his or her own ability to alter the source of anxiety. Remember, we live the lives we build.
This leads to another factor: Time is valuable and should only be filled with things that we enjoy. Life is too short to be involved in activities that don’t bring you happiness. Prioritize the commitments that you are passionate about. You’ll soon find yourself enjoying all those things on your “to-do” list.
One of the healthiest ways to deal with stress is to take care of yourself. This may sound selfish, but if you aren’t in a good place mentally, you won’t be able to take on tasks with your full potential. This includes eating well, getting enough sleep, finding time to decompress and exercising.
A non-profit resource, helpguide.org, states, “Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress … Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing pent-up stress and tension.”
Senior Cory Batza, who is very involved on campus and applying for law school, would agree. “When stress can’t be controlled, I resort to yoga. Any sort of fitness has a profound effect on my mind, especially in yoga where I am specifically encouraged to leave [my outside life] at the door,” Batza said.
Stress is an unhealthy state of mental or emotional tension. Seek support from friends, family or advisers when you need help. Hard work pays off, and time management is a valuable virtue to gain. Only opportunities that you have the skill to handle come into your life, so don’t stress. You can do it!
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Follow Molly Argue on Twitter: @MissMollyArgue
As published in the Sept. 5 issue of the Pepperdine Graphic.
