[This tip provided by Briana Thomas, freshman nursing student.]

At any given point in time, most college students are stressed about something; it’s just part of going to school. While having stress in your life is normal and often unavoidable, being stressed is something you can control. It’s all normal, and the best way to handle stress is to not get more stressed about . . . being stressed. If you’re stressed out, admit it and figure out how to handle it. Focusing on it will only make things seem worse.

There are several ways to handle your stress. First step is getting more sleep. This means taking a quick nap, a night when you go to bed early, or stick with a regular sleep schedule. Getting more sleep can help your mind focus, charge, and balance. Second get some exercise. This can be as simple as a 30-minute walk while listening to your favorite music at Swinney Recreation Center. Or take a break and see a movie. Grab some friends and go out dancing. Having a social life is an important part of your college experience, so don’t be afraid to keep it in the picture when you’re stressed.

Maybe you need to take a trip to the Counseling Center and talk to someone about the way you’re feeling. This has always helped me when I’m stressed. I like to tell someone the way I’m feeling to understand better myself. Plus it’s nice to get advice which reassures me that everything will work out. I never knew anything about the MindBody Connection in the Student Union until just recently and I hear it helps a lot with stress. Here you can come and relax, sit in the message chair, play some Wii, or use the HeartMath machine.

College life can be overwhelming. You want to hang out with your friends, join clubs, explore off campus, and join a fraternity or sorority. It can sometimes feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. There’s only so much any person can handle, but you need to remember the reason why you’re in school: academics. Most college students are going through the same things so don’t feel silly if you need to just relax and talk for 30 minutes over coffee with a friend.