Stress Management Tests, new friends, finances…college students face stress on a daily basis. Stress can seem like a negative thing we should actively work on avoiding and removing from our lives. However, stress is what keeps us alert and focused when faced with danger. Stress is what gets you to study for your upcoming test and sharpens your focus during an important game. It can also save your life in emergency situations, heightening your adrenaline and giving you extra strength. While stress can be helpful and healthy, it can also begin having negative effects when we experience it for long periods of time. The intensity, frequency and duration of stress will be different for each person. Many factors can make the experience of stress worse, such as: having limited social support having multiple stressors lacking the resources to manage our stress Learning how to recognize our stress response is the first step to being able to manage our stress to ensure it stays within a healthy limit. Negative Impact of Stress Short term symptoms that stress is starting to have a negative impact may include: fast heartbeat stiff neck, tight shoulders fast breathing sweating, sweaty palms upset stomach, nausea, or diarrhea Headache Long term symptoms that stress is having a negative impact may include: depression anxiety poor judgment memory problems aches and pains appetite changes When we don’t manage our stress, it can impact our health, such as our immune system. While stress alone does not cause disease, it triggers changes throughout the body that make people more susceptible to many illnesses. To manage stress effectively it is important to practice daily relaxation and coping strategies, often referred to as self-care. Additionally, speaking with a healthcare provider, such as someone at the Campus Health and Wellness Centre, can provide you valuable insight. They can help you understand the underlying causes of your stress and how it might be affecting your overall well-being. Tips for Stress Management Tackle stress head-on with practical strategies you can use everyday. Whether it’s learning relaxation techniques, managing your time more effectively, or reaching out for support, you’ll discover tools to keep stress in check and boost your well-being. Take control of your stress, so you can thrive both in and out of the classroom! Daily exercise (walking, yoga, hiking, kickboxing, going to the gym etc) Eat a healthy balanced diet Mindfulness (meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing etc) Journaling Get quality sleep Fun and leisure time (watching funny movies, concerts etc) Get creative (paint, draw or craft) Get social (friends and family) Speak with a healthcare professional Attend a wellness based group or event Resources On Campus For support while on campus, students can access The Campus Health and Wellness Centre or DC Student Association Support Hub. It can also be beneficial to seek academic support if the cause of your stress is academically related; try speaking to your Academic Student Advisor, or Student Academic Learning Services. OFF CAMPUS Calm: This app has multiple guided meditations, breathing exercises and sleep stories to increase your relaxation. Mindshift: This app has mindfulness strategies and tools to help you through some common struggles such as test anxiety, procrastination, social fears and dealing with conflict. Happify: Grounded in the fields of positive psychology, mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy. As the name suggests, Happify’s number one goal is to help us all feel happier, and more emotionally fulfilled. Arianna Elizabeth Yoga : assessable yoga on YouTube by Arianna, certified Pilates instructor, certified yoga sculpt instructor, meditation & breath work facilitator TED Talk: Kelly McGonigal - How to make stress your friend Andrew Huberman: Tools for Managing Stress & Anxiety Podcast
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