| It's tough being a student. You're busy | | | | them, even after they leave the nest to |
| learning to live on your own, balancing | | | | attend college. Some students are only |
| the demands of friends and relationships | | | | attending school to please individuals |
| and on top of that - you're expected to | | | | in their family, while others may be |
| study! Learning how to balance these | | | | attending school to prepare for a career |
| various demands is vital to your | | | | that their families aren't pleased with. |
| academic performance, so take the time | | | | Either of these situations - as well as |
| to learn how to manage stress | | | | many others - can be stressful for |
| effectively. The following are some of | | | | students who are already dealing with |
| the key sources of stress that students | | | | heavy coursework, and financial and |
| have identified in recent studies of | | | | social responsibilities. |
| students attending colleges and | | | | 5. Personal relationships |
| universities around the nation: | | | | Finding yourself wrapped up in a college |
| 1. Time Management | | | | romance can be exciting, but intimate |
| Time management was frequently rated as | | | | relationships can take a toll on already |
| the biggest stress factor for students | | | | stressed out college students. Many |
| involved in post secondary education. | | | | students interviewed in these studies |
| Many students just aren't equipped with | | | | expressed concerns over how difficult it |
| the skills it takes to manage their | | | | is to maintain their academic |
| various responsibilities. If you're | | | | performance while in a serious |
| someone who spends too little time | | | | relationship. On the other hand, many |
| studying - or someone who's often | | | | students claimed that having a |
| distracted by extracurricular activities | | | | significant other that appreciated the |
| - look for programs on campus designed | | | | hard work and dedication involved in |
| to teach you better time management | | | | going to school was a net positive - |
| skills. | | | | your success really depends on how |
| 2. Setting Priorities | | | | committed you are to balancing these |
| Balancing all the various obligations | | | | different responsibilities. |
| that college life entails and setting | | | | 6. Campus Crime |
| good priorities is another source of | | | | Being away from home for the first time |
| stress identified by many of students | | | | can be scary - so it's perfectly |
| involved in the studies. With all the | | | | reasonable that campus crime would be |
| clubs, activities and athletic events | | | | another source of stress for students. |
| going on, it can be hard for many | | | | Crime statistics can be especially |
| students to balance the things they want | | | | daunting if your campus has recently |
| to do with the things they need to do - | | | | experienced a series of attacks or |
| like studying and working part-time. | | | | burglaries. If you live in an unsafe |
| Many students in the studies commented | | | | neighborhood or attend a college with a |
| that they felt like they were always "on | | | | poor safety record, take appropriate |
| the run" between different activities. | | | | precautions like not walking alone at |
| 3. Financial Stability | | | | night and locking up your room when you |
| Worrying about money and financial | | | | leave. You may also want to consider |
| stability was identified as another key | | | | renters insurance if break-ins are a |
| source of stress for students. And it | | | | problem in your area. |
| makes sense - college tuition bills are | | | | 7. Future Uncertainty |
| constantly increasing and extra expenses | | | | Anyone who's attended college has heard |
| like books and materials add up quickly. | | | | the dreaded question at least one |
| Students with homes and families to | | | | hundred times - "So what are you going |
| support are most likely to feel the | | | | to do when you graduate?" The scary |
| pinch, but even students with no | | | | thing is, no one really knows what |
| financial obligations can find it | | | | they're going to do, unless they're one |
| difficult to balance all the monetary | | | | of the lucky few with job offers lined |
| obligations without stress. | | | | up and waiting for them. If you're |
| 4. Family Expectations | | | | feeling anxiety over your future plans, |
| Family - you can't live with them and | | | | take a deep breath and try to let go of |
| you can't live without them. Many | | | | some of your stress. Uncertainty is a |
| students are surprised to find that the | | | | part of life, so worry less and try to |
| stress from family expectations follows | | | | enjoy the ride. |