Ithaca College

As the semester winds down, you may be feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders. Do yourself a favor - STOP and take 10 SLOW, deep breaths. You don't want to over-stress your body and be sick for finals week. Make sure you are eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, make time for some fun, and get plenty of exercise to help you manage your stress level.

While dealing with the well known feeling of stress we college students often experience this time each semester, try viewing stressful tasks as opportunities to excel, not as defeats that will lower your grade. Confront stress head-on and show it who's boss! Dealing with stressful situations can be broken down in two main ways:

Change The Stressful Situation:

• Learn how to say "No" to additional responsibilities when you're already stressed 
• Avoid people who stress you out
• Make a to-do list with the most important tasks up top and the least important at the bottom
• Express feelings, rather than bottling them up
• Be willing and open to compromise
• Be assertive- don't be afraid to tell others you can't do something, or only haven an allotted amount of time to do something
• Manage your time with a daily planner

Change Your Reaction:

• Look at a stressful situation in a more positive perspective
• Look at the BIG picture! Don't sweat the small stuff
• Set reasonable standards for yourself! No one is perfect
• Focus on all of the positive things you appreciate in life
• Don't try to control the uncontrollable
• Look at major challenges an opportunities for personal growth
• Share your feelings with others by talking to a friend, counselor, or parent. You are NOT ALONE in the stressed-out boat!
• Learn to forgive others to decrease negative feelings

*Try keeping a "Stress Journal" and write everything down that you believe causes you stress and think of ways that you could help better manage each stressful instance.

Use your campus resources to help lower stress levels! Visit the Center for Health Promotion website on Stress and Anxiety to find out some helpful activities you can do to better manage stress and enjoy yourself! Also check out the Office of Counseling and Wellness  to see the services they provide.

Submitted by: Maria Behrens '11