This article is part of a running series with Rowan University’s Wellness Center. This collaboration aims to educate students about personal well-being options. For further updates, follow @rowanuwellness on social.
By: Estrella Delgado, Wellness Center intern and recent law & justice studies gradudate
College can be a fun and adventurous experience, especially when first starting college. But it can also be stressful and difficult to push through. The transition from high school to college is challenging since you are now given more freedom and responsibility over your education. That in itself can feel overwhelming and lonely. However, that feeling of being alone does not need to be true at all. There are various tactics and resources you can use to navigate stress and succeed in college.
Resources for Academic Stress
One of the main reasons for stress in college is the overload of coursework. College courses are a lot more rigorous than those in high school, so it makes sense that they include more in-depth assignments and stricter deadlines. The ability to manage this is key to succeeding academically.
The resources offered by Academic Support Programs support students through academic stress. The department offers tutoring in various classes, success coaching with fellow peers who can offer support and skills, and academic improvement meetings with an advisor to come up with a game plan for your education.
Additionally, the Wellness Center offers emotional and mental health support. They offer, if needed, therapy (online or in-person), Let’s Talk peer group sessions, and events throughout the semester to de-stress. All of these resources are available to any student on campus. The goal is to meet students where they are and equip them for wellness and success.
Self-Care is Crucial to Manage Stress
There are also many self-care activities one can do on their own time to deal with stress and soothe their mind. Some of these include getting enough sleep, exercising, deep breathing, and spending time with friends and family (Broderick, 2022).
Getting enough sleep is crucial to improving your mood because you have the energy to move through the day and exercise, which gets your endorphins kicking and improves cognition and decision making. Deep breathing exercises help slow down your heart rate if you feel anxious or nervous and it is a good way to bring you back down from all those negative emotions.
Lastly, spending time with people who make you feel good allows you to be yourself without worrying about anything else at the moment. Having a support system can make college a little easier and less lonesome. As a whole, college is an exciting time for everyone and knowing the skills that can make it a more enjoyable and less stressful experience is a huge benefit.
Written by: Estrella Delgado
Edited by: Jordyn Dauter, junior double major in dance & elementary education