Dear Boilermaker,
Your first semester in college is an exciting time, full of new challenges that drive you to expand your horizons. While many of these experiences can be enjoyable, others may simply leave you feeling stressed.
Stress is a normal and necessary part of life—it’s your fight-or-flight response to challenges you see in the world. Still, it’s important to be able to manage stress and cope in a healthy way.
Tips for managing stress in college
- Get enough sleep. Getting both quality sleep and enough sleep hours helps to reduce stress and improve your mood. Plus, students who sleep well have a better memory recall, enjoy a clearer mind, and are less likely to get sick.
- Eat well and exercise regularly. Try to eat nutritious meals and avoid eating on the run. Beyond keeping your body healthy, regular exercise and wholesome foods can help improve your cognitive abilities. Exercise can even help you fall asleep, thereby reducing stress. Keep in mind that exercise doesn’t need to be strenuous—yoga, short walks, and stretching can all lead to immense mental health benefits and help relieve tension.
- Don’t rely on stimulants. Drinking coffee and energy drinks to fuel late-night study sessions will inevitably lead to a crash later on. These stimulants boost cortisol levels in the body, increasing the physical effects of stress.
- Set realistic expectations. Consistently having too much on your plate can lead to a lot of stress. Include study time when you are planning your week, and be careful not to overcommit in other areas until you are sure you can manage your class and study time. It's good practice to also include some relaxation time in your weekly schedule.
- Identify a stress outlet. Stress can never be completely avoided; however, finding a healthy way to reduce stress can go a long way toward keeping it from overwhelming you. Common stress outlets include exercise, spending time with friends and family, and listening to music. You can also try relaxation techniques such as deep abdominal breathing, concentrating on a soothing word (like "peace" or "calm"), doing yoga or tai chi, and visualizing tranquil scenes.
Purdue’s research collaborative on Steps to Leaps provides weekly well-being tips and other wellness resources for students. Review additional wellness tips on the Steps to Leaps website.
Mark your calendar:
Early March – Still considering where to live next semester? Review off-campus housing options here.
March 13-18 – Spring Break (no classes) March 20 – Last day to withdraw from a class with a W or WF March 22 – Enhance Your Study Skills; Creating Effective Study Plans & Strategies, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, Helen Bass Williams Academic Success Center, Wiley Hall, C215. Join this workshop to learn how you can boost your studying strategies beyond memorization and practice problems to become more prepared for your assignments and exams. Keep yourself from cramming by developing effective study times to focus in key concepts and stay on track throughout the semester!
Purdue Orientation Programs |