How to Fight Off Senior Stress

Written by Juliana Bringer. Media by Mary Todd Christian

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As midterms are upon us, everyone is feeling the stress at this point in the school year. The seniors are in COR 401 along with their other classes and possibly have a job and definitely feel the effects of stress. Many seniors may be experiencing stress related issues and illnesses. I am one of the many experiencing this and I wish there was less stress for all. So, I have made a list of tips to help erase stress altogether or find healthy ways to lessen the stress. Though these tips are geared towards seniors, there are some good ideas for underclassmen as well.

Self-care
Make sure to take the time to take care of yourself. Make sure you are eating proper meals, getting good amounts of sleep, etc. Take the time to do an activity that helps you relax. Do something you know will relieve your stress, even it is just for a short period of time. It doesn’t matter if you like writing, watching TV, reading or drawing, you just need to find a way to relax.

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source: serc.carleton.edu

Assignments: A Bit at a Time
If you have a large assignment that makes you feel anxious, don’t do it all at once. Instead, accomplish it in chunks. Start the assignment as soon as possible and just do sections of it at a time. You don’t want to rush it. Also, Academic coaches can help with assignment organizations. For example, when writing papers, first pick your topic. Then find resources in your next chunk. Afterward, create an outline, then your introduction. Taking steps like these may help your paper writing ability. Another suggestion is to keep a planner. Having a planner to keep assignments and meetings organized will go a long way. Yes, it’ll take a few minutes out of your day to do this, but it’ll definitely help in the end. It may take a while to get used to it, but once you do, you’ll find it’s easier to keep track of your assignments.

Social Media
You should log out of Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or any other social media sites that keep you distracted. I know I’m definitely guilty of not logging out of my favorite social media sites. However, distractions make homework a lot harder to get done.

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source: flikr.com

Prayer
Praying about your stress can help relieve it and give you peace. Read Bible passages that correspond with stress, and the peace of God can help remind you that God is there. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27. Scripture also tells us to be anxious for nothing. We can hold onto these verses as a reminder even through our most stressful days.

Friends & Family
Having a good group of friends or family members to help support you is a good idea. Sometimes when you’re stressed it can help to vent about what is bogging you down so you can relieve some of the strain. Make sure your support system will be there for you.

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source: medicalandhealtcare.com

Counseling or Medical Help
Talk to a counselor. Greenville College has counseling available for all students. You can set up weekly, bi-weekly, or just singular appointments. However, if you notice your stress is causing health issues like anxiety, panic attacks, and migraines then you need to talk to your primary doctor. If you are someone who has pre-existing anxiety disorders and/or depression, stress can aggravate your systems.

 

Dealing with stress can be difficult. However, there are ways to fight it off! Remember, take care of yourself, stay ahead of your homework, turn off your social media, spend time in prayer, rely on your support system, and get some medical help if you need it! Don’t let the stress of life stop your success.

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