College stress happens to just about everyone – if you’re not stressed while in college, there’s probably something wrong! It’s just a combination of responsibilities and things that all add up to make you feel super tense and overwhelmed. Especially as you’re not used to living college life at all – it’s the first time you’ve ever been away from home, you have to be more independent when studying, and the course content is a lot harder than in high school. 

With all of this considered, what can you do to manage college-induced stress? Here are three tactics that seem to work really well:

Find a fun way to release tension while studying

Look for ways to take a break from studying and release a lot of pent-up tension. A great way to do this is by playing a quick game or two. You want to find a game that’s quick and easy to play, so you can have a break and get back to work. Something like cornhole is a fun idea, and you can even get personalized cornhole bags as seen here: https://www.cornholeworldwide.com/products/cornhole-bags/custom-cornhole-bags/. It’s quick for you to set up, you can pop outside and enjoy the fresh air, and it gives you an emotional release that helps you de-stress. Other games also work; find whatever feels best for you. 

Create daily schedules

Daily schedules are designed to help you manage your time effectively and avoid feeling overwhelmed. If you have classes to attend, they already form part of your schedule. Around these classes, you can create your own timetables for studying and pleasure. Set aside time each day to study and do your work, but include short breaks and some free time in the evenings. By following a schedule, you know exactly what you’re doing and when you’re doing it. You feel more in control of your college life, and you’re giving yourself some free time to relax at the end of every day as well. Overall, a schedule can help you feel less stressed. 

Know your limits

A big college mistake is taking on too much all at once. You have your main course, but you also decide to take on some extra minor courses as well. Or, you join multiple societies and take on responsibilities with them. Then, you decide you need a job to get extra money. You do far too much, which is why you feel incredibly stressed. Instead, know your limits and don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s not healthy to be too busy, so start quitting societies and lightening your daily schedules. 

Naturally, a huge part of college-induced stress stems from the fear of failing your exams and not graduating. This is why the second two points are so important. A schedule will help you study more efficiently, which aids your performance. Knowing your limits will stop you from doing too much, which clears room in your schedule to focus on studying. This can lead to better exam performance, removing your fear of failure and helping you avoid lots of constant stress.