By Ashton Jones
Almost all college students can relate to the inevitable feeling of stress that comes with balancing school, relationships, and extracurricular activities. With finals quickly approaching and the semester coming to an end, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or stressed. It is important to recognize that stress is a normal part of life and is, realistically, unavoidable on a daily basis (especially as an Honors College student). With that being said, utilizing healthy ways to cope with feelings of stress is crucial to your overall health and key to long-term academic success. As a young adult, it is important to practice healthy habits to improve your overall mental health even when stress levels are at an all-time high. Below are a few healthy habits you can practice that may help lower your stress levels.
1. Go outside and get some fresh air:
Lake Fayetteville
If you are feeling overwhelmed with stress, sometimes it is best to take a break outside and get some fresh air. Studying inside all day can become tiring and draining. Giving yourself a moment to be outside can increase your energy levels and give you a moment to breathe in the fresh air. Finding time to go on a walk, hike, or even sit in the sun is a great way to relieve stress and improve brain function. As Razorbacks, we are lucky to call a beautiful place like Fayetteville, Arkansas our home away from home. Fayetteville has a variety of places to get outside and get some fresh air. A few great outdoor places to visit in the NWA area:
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Devil’s Den
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville offers hiking, biking, and jogging/walking trails. It is a great place to walk and enjoy the view or even have a picnic at sunset!
- Devil’s Den: Devil’s Den is located about thirty minutes outside of Fayetteville and is the perfect place to take an afternoon study break. With beautiful waterfall views and hiking trails, it offers a great opportunity to grab a friend and reset for a few hours.
- Wilson Park: Wilson Park is located near campus and offers trails to walk on, picnic tables to relax at, or even a place to hang up your hammock and take a nap! If you are looking for a shorter study break or a quiet outdoor study spot, this is the perfect place!
- Coffee shops with outdoor seating: Getting off campus and finding a place with a great studying environment is a great opportunity to lower stress levels. There is no shortage of coffee in Fayetteville, and many of those coffee shops have outdoor seating with tables and WiFi. The Co-Op is a great place to sip on coffee, relax outside, and get some work done.
2. Give meditation a try:
Allotting a few minutes a day to meditate can quiet anxious thoughts and refocus your attention away from the never-ending to-do list. Meditating has been proven to be highly effective in reducing negative thoughts and creating a sense of calmness that may sometimes feel impossible to achieve. If you are new to this practice, several apps provide guided meditation techniques such as Headspace, Calm, or The Mindfulness App. Many of these apps have both free and paid versions, so you can try them out to find the right version for you! That said, the great thing about meditation is that you can do it anywhere—all you need is a break in your schedule and a quiet space!
3. Get some exercise:
Office of Student Activities, Student Affairs, and University Programs host yoga class on Old Main Lawn, Fall 2020
Creating an exercise routine is a great way to improve mental health and lower feelings of stress. Physical activity can get your mind off of any stressors and allow you to redirect your focus to your body, rather than your mind. Exercise releases endorphins and is highly effective in improving your overall mood, sleep, and self-esteem. Whether it’s the traditional workout down at the HPER, or if it’s walking, hiking, biking, or attending an exercise class, finding a physical activity that works best for you can do wonders to make you feel better!
4. Get enough sleep:
Getting an adequate amount of sleep each night improves your concentration, productivity, and overall mood. Sleeping a healthy amount (6-8 hours) will allow you to tackle tomorrow’s obligations in a much more efficient manner, which will subsequently lower stress levels. Sleep is your brain’s opportunity to reset and rest for the next day and as an Honors College student, we need all the brainpower we can get! Here are some helpful apps to track your sleep and make sure you are getting a substantial amount: SleepScore, Sleep Cycle, Sleeprate, and Pillow.
5. Talk to someone:
Professional counseling services are available at CAPS.
Communicating your emotions is of the utmost importance when coping with stress. Talking to someone has been proven to lower high-stress levels and allows you to verbalize your feelings, rather than internalizing them in your mind. Communicating with someone will help you rationalize your feelings, relate, and alleviate certain stressors. Talking to a friend, family member, professor, or mental health professional can provide incredible benefits in stress relief.
And if you do need to talk to a professional, you have an option right on campus. At the University of Arkansas, Pat Walker Health Center’s Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) provides students with high-quality mental health services 24/7. Students are always able to drop in for mental health consultations (in person or online) to get care from a licensed mental health clinician. CAPS also offers support groups, seminars, downloadable workbooks, and so much more. Find out more information about all the programs CAPS has to offer at https://health.uark.edu/mental-health/index.php.
While stress is a common (and perhaps, unavoidable) part of college, that doesn’t mean you have to grit your teeth and suffer through it. Finding healthy habits to cope with stress can make all the difference when it comes to your overall well-being. Not only that, establishing these habits now can help you deal with stress for years to come!
