Stress gets the best of everyone at some point in their life.  It can bring out the worst in a person, and make them feel down on almost anything and everything. College students are one of the top stressors.  The college years bring upon several different stressful situations. Once a student has just graduated high school, you now have to figure out what you want to do for the rest of their life, being one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever have to make.  Along with college, there is usually always a money problem, many wonder how it’s going to be paid for.  Or maybe you have the stress of moving out for the first time.  All of these stressful situations will eventually tear down a person if they are not handled properly.  Below is a list of easy tips to help reduce stress in your life as a college student.

Find time for yourself

Making sure you find time for yourself is very important.  Whether you are reading a good book, watching your favorite movie or going for a walk in the park it is important to get away from everything sometimes.  After studying, taking an exam or getting out of a stressful day at work reward yourself with something you love to do.  Everyone needs that hour or two by themselves sometimes.

Get your dose of exercise

Getting exercise is something that is needed daily to maintain good health.  When exercising, you’re releasing endorphins which help raise your self-esteem and reduce stress.  When you have a positive attitude you enjoy life much more and things are less likely to bother you.  Everyone always feels wonderful after a good run, bike ride, swim ect. but always feel guilty when they don’t do it.  Save that half hour/hour in your day to take some time by yourself or with a friend and get some exercise!  There are always ways to make exercise fun, find your favorite way of doing it!

Eat your fruits and vegetables

Often college students are always on the go, and eat fast food on a regular basis.  Studies show diets high in fatty foods will increase your chance of many diseases, cancers, and dangerous health risks.  There is nothing better than making a huge fruit salad or salad with all your favorite fruits and vegetables.  Like they say, “you are what you eat.” and that is very true.  Many people feel guilty after eating fast food or any kind of junk food but feel wonderful about themselves after eating healthy.  Eating your fruits and vegetables is known to help with a better attitude. 

Keep work hours to a minimum

Often college students are going to school and working at the same time.  We all know college can be very expensive so why not work and make as much money as you can?  Yes, it is a good idea to have some type of income when going to college to maybe help with the cost of books, gas money and other expenses, but some take it too far.  Sometimes you see college students working over 40 hours a week, along with going to school.  Not only is that stressful, it is bad for your health.  With that kind of schedule it will be very hard to do the things you love and find time for yourself.  Unless you have a very high paying job, working that frequent it isn’t worth it.  That is why we go to college to get a good paying job; we will never get rich working your basic retail or fast food job.  There are also student loans which will help you with your finances. Working that often has good intensions but it just isn’t healthy.  Many students work so much they end up failing a class.  That defeated going to work and making hundreds or maybe even thousands of dollars to pay for the class, then have to turn around and do it again.  It is certainly okay to work but make sure it’s an amount you feel comfortable with.

Provide yourself with an agenda

Procrastinate is a word every college student is familiar with.  Everyone at some point does it and then regrets it.  Try getting and agenda, this will become very helpful.  Often students don’t realize how busy their week will be, and forget some things that are going to go on in it.  An agenda will not only help you get organized, it will help with finding a good amount of homework you can do each day.  Also you can write when all your exams are, class is and when assignments are due.  This is a good way to help put a stop to procrastinating and to organize your life.

Make time for your friends and family

There is nothing better than looking forward to a weekend with your family or friends.  After a busy week it is a good way to reward yourself.  Find something you all love to do, whether its going to your grandmas house with your family, getting all your friends together to ride bikes or just staying home.  We all need that time to hang out with friends and family so set up a day that works with everyone!