Dealing with Stress

This week, I started classes at my new university. That’s to say that I started some of my classes and turned up to others to find out that they didn’t start this week or simply just didn’t exist, despite being advertised on numerous notice boards. I even heard whisper that one of my tutors is absent until March. Something that I will definitely have to check as I cannot believe that even the French could be so disorganised. All of this got me thinking about stress, as I’m definitely experiencing a lot of it at the moment! Here are a few tips for dealing with stress.

• Perspective

For me this is an important factor as my anxiety tends to blow matters out of proportion in an instant. Putting those things which are stressing you out into perspective is essential as you’ll often find that the problem isn’t as extreme or as unmanageable as you are making it. Taking a moment to really evaluate the problem is often the first step to finding a solution. I can promise you, it isn’t as bad as it seems. Go back to the root of the issue and ask yourself: ‘What is the worst that can happen?’

• Talk to someone

A problem shared is a problem halved and there is always someone who can help you make sense of it. In a university setting, this might be a tutor, your personal tutor or even your classmates. There is no shame in asking for help and often it is the best way to find a solution. Talking to someone who has more experience of or knowledge surrounding the problem can lead to a swift resolution or, at the very least, a few more options to try. Don’t forget, Leicester university also has a wellbeing service for when it all becomes too much.

• Take a break

Sometimes you have to accept that not all problems have an instant fix, maybe you have to wait until the offices open again or for a tutor to reply to your email. In these instances, there is no point in dwelling on the problem, something that I am often guilty of, as this typically won’t help you maintain the required perspective. So, step away from it for a while, go for a walk, meet friends or just settle down with Netflix. Anything that will distract you from your stress. A great method for this is meditation, something that, until recently, I doubted the effectiveness of. However, in a desperate attempt to get a handle on my anxiety, I downloaded the Calm app. Not only does it give you instant perspective/distance from the cause of your stress, I have discovered other benefits of the app, including sleeping better. Ultimately, it’s important to achieve some distance from your problems. You never know, stepping back from them may be exactly what you need to discover a solution.

• Manage your time

Prevention is perhaps the best way to deal with stress. If there is no problem, there is no need to stress. One manner of controlling this is by managing your time. A lot of university related stress is born from deadlines and an excess of work. Arrange your time so you can get everything done, without having to take those pesky 10% cuts on your work. For me, setting aside a certain time every week for homework or household chores and maintaining that routine goes a long way in lowering my stress levels. Obviously, it’s impossible to plan for every problem but, by managing those which you can control, the rest of it becomes easier to handle.

So, there you have it, a few tips for managing stress and solving all those pesky problems that you have to deal with. It’s important to remember that they are never as serious as they may seem, there is always a solution and someone there to help you find it. As always, if you have anything to add on this topic or any questions, please leave them in the comments section below.