Coping with stress in unique ways
No matter how much energy, sleep and food college students may run out of, stress is one thing some students never run low on. In addition to the other things they are in college to learn about, dealing with stress in the classroom and in life are lessons students are often forced to learn.
From exercise to cleaning, USU students find ways to help relieve the stress that comes with college life.
Exercise:
“Working out, mostly Zumba, helps out a lot,” said Sam Behl, a sophomore majoring in exercise science. “It allows me to forget about everything and focus on the dance moves and just have fun.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise is one of the best ways to deal with stress by doing three things for the body: It pumps up endorphins, acts as meditation in motion and improves a person’s overall mood.
Behl said it definitely helps to have something to go and do to make her feel better. She said Zumba is not just an occasional form of stress relief – it is a part of her life.
“I try to do it three to four times a week,” Behl said. “I always try to make time for it, even if I’m not super stressed, because it’s fun.”
Behl said though it isn’t unhealthy for her to occasionally not work out, she can tell when it would be nice for her to go and do some Zumba to decrease her stress.
Releasing aggression:
“I get a hockey stick I purchase from the D.I. for $2 or $3 and then I find a tree outside and swing until something breaks,” said Luke Ensign a junior majoring in political science and FCHD. “Usually it’s a big tree that won’t get hurt by the stick. Sometimes you just need to have a hockey stick in your hand and let out some aggression.”
Ensign said though smashing things can be a successful de-stressing method, sometimes all he needs is to eat a good, medium rare steak and do a man growl.
“When I’ve had a sufficient amount of sports, eaten a good rare steak and kissed a girl, I’m good,” he said.
Cleaning:
“When I get really stressed out I have to clean my room first and get that out of the way before I do anything else,” said Rachel Hudson, a junior majoring in photography. “Sometimes I wonder if it may be a procrastination thing.”
Hudson said some of the most high-stress times of the semester are during finals week and the first few weeks when classes are starting out.
Procrastination can be the most effective form of coping with stress, according to a study conducted in April of 2011, with participants who were college students juggling academics, work, and family. For those who used most “avoidance coping” and spent time being with family, napping and other things before taking on their conflicts, had fewer conflicts to deal with overall.
Hudson said taking time before facing the things stressing her out most is the most central way she deals with her stress.
“It lets me take a beat and focus on what I need to do,” Hudson said.
Stress is a response to a demand placed on a person and without it many people wouldn’t get those things done that they need to, according to the University Health Center at the University of Georgia.
There are numerous ways to cope with stress. Due to balancing academics, work, social activities and financial stability, life can be overwhelming and stressful for college students.
“What it really boils down to is a balancing act,” said Julie McCarthy, an associate professor at the University of Toronto. McCarthy helped conduct the study about the different ways to cope with stress.
“Try to be in tune with yourself and know what your limits are,” McCarthy said. “Don’t feel guilty taking the time for yourself to recover.”
“I think you can cut out 30 percent of your life and be fine,” Said Esign. “You can step back, cut stuff out and be okay.”
There are numerous methods students use to keep from losing their cool. USU Counseling and Psychological Services have health professionals to help students work on beneficial coping techniques.
– mandy.m.morgan@aggiemail.usu.edu