Beat Stress for Success: The Top Five College Stress-Busters

Going to college is the next stressful endeavor to working full-time, maybe even more so in some cases. That is why it is essential for students to learn early on how to beat stress, before it gets the best of them. Learning time management skills and stress-busting techniques such as meditation go a long way. 

The demands of work, class, family and friends leave many students feeling overwhelmed, and this uncontrolled stress can take a toll, leading to burnout, illness or even the onset of a mental disorder such as depression.  The following stress-busters can be put into place to make attending university less stressful and more fun.

Online classes are a less stressful way to attend class without having to get ready in the morning, commute and then trek back home afterwards. Argosy University offers a wide selection of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in a variety of psychology concentrations at 19 locations across the nation, with many classes in an online format.

Avoiding distractions such as television, Internet, social media (yes that means Facebook) and parties is essential to succeeding in college. Not to say that any social activity or technological devise should be ignored completely, but try not to get lost in lure of fun, rather than setting aside time to study.

Sleep is not overrated, at any age. College is usually synonymous with all night cramming sessions and weekend blowouts that last until 6:00 a.m. or later, but all that missed sleep will eventually take a toll in the form of slowed thought processes, impaired memory, and delayed reaction time. Try to get seven or eight hours of sleep each night. The occasional late night won't be a disaster, but get back to a normal routine as soon as possible.

It has been known for years that regular exercise does a body good, but most people find it hard to even walk around the block, usually because of time constraints. College students are already low on free time, but a little bit of exercise a week can promote the production of endorphins, the brain's natural feel-good chemicals. It relieves anxiety and depression and combats the dreaded freshman fifteen.  Need a better reason?

This post is brought to you by Argosy University. Drawing upon our more than 30-year history of granting degrees in professional psychology, Argosy University has developed a curriculum that focuses on interpersonal skills and practical experience alongside academic learning. Because getting a degree is one thing. Succeeding, quite another.