Do you feel the stress tonight?

Six ways I learned to handle stress in college

It’s finals week. In the next week I have 3 tests, a draft of my research report due, a project proposal, a freelance website to finish and I’m taking the GREs next Thursday.

I reflect back four years ago to my junior year in high school — feels like an eternity — and I would say that I’m not only significantly busier now but significantly more relaxed. How can this have happened? A few months back I had an interview for my summer internship and, surprisingly, the question that stumped me the most was “How do you handle stress?”

“I don’t know,” I uneloquently answered. “It’s just one of those things that happens, I guess.”

I hadn’t really stopped to think about it,until now. But I always feel, despite pushing myself, that I have a very comfortable and healthy level of stress – so, after some thought, this is for the most part how I do it:

1. Prioritize. Whether it’s using a calendar or planner or or whiteboard or scrap paper, having some way to keep track of everything that must get done is essential; ordering that list is even more helpful. Knowing what should be done first helps me focus and being able to see how far along I’ve come is a helpful reminder of how much I’ve already gotten done.
2. Avoid the all-nighters. I’ve made it through three years of college without having to work through the entire night. I know these all-night cram sessions works for some, but for me I’d rather get started ahead of time and have time to sleep at night as well. Plus, science says it’s bad.I have implemented a rule where I stop working after midnight. I don’t always listen to it, but when I do, I find myself happier and the work still manages to get done the next day.
3. Be proud of your work. If I spend ten hours writing a paper, the last thing I want to feel is that it was a waste of time. Take pride in what was accomplished, brag about it to someone even. Even if it’s not the best thing I’ve ever done there are always things I can learn from the process.
4. Love what you do. Here’s where college has really helped me compared to high school. No longer am I stuck in a Introducion to Law or Calculus course – everything I enroll in, I am truly passionate about. If you don’t like your major, change your major (I did it.) If you don’t like your job, look for new jobs. It’s so easy to feel stressed when the material is uninteresting but when the passion is there, anything is possible.
5. Learn to say no. This has, no doubt, been one of the hardest things I’ve learned at school. There will come a time when you simply cannot take on any additional tasks. Sure, there are some things that are required. But if there’s no time, learn to say no to your friend that needs your help building a website or starring in their short film. It sucks, especially if you like to be helpful, but if you overcommit you underperform on everything.
6. Have fun. If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong. My weeks wouldn’t feel complete if I didn’t make time for lunch with friends or climbing trees or watching The Office. Having fun, whatever that means to you, is the best way to relax. So take a 30-minute break from the mountain of work to play frisbee or go for a walk. Enjoy the fun!