Life requires balance. College can be more than demanding. Is it possible to reconcile the two?
As a UVM student, you may be handling a large academic workload, participating in extracurricular activities, planning for the future, and staying engaged with your friends and family. When does it become too much?
It can be difficult to recognize when your responsibilities are becoming too much to handle. The signs of imbalance can range depending on how stress affects you. You might find it difficult to focus or experience a big shift in your eating or sleeping patterns. The quality of your school work could suffer. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for friends, advisors or teachers to decipher when you are feeling imbalanced because each of our reactions to stress can range dramatically. You must learn to recognize the signs you exhibit when you feel stressed and take action to re-center and care for yourself.
8 great ways to take care of yourself during stressful times:
1. Exercise (Get Moving!): Take a mental break by working out to help your brain produce endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.
2. Connect with a friend or family member.
3. Just take a break! Set aside time to relax, even if it’s only 5 or 10 minutes. Try the Pomodoro technique.
4. Eat a balanced diet and stay hydrated: Eating a nutritious meal can improve outlook, boost your energy, and stabilize your mood.
5. Get a good night’s rest: Close your books, shut off your laptop, and get a good 7-8 hours of rest. It will make a world of difference.
6. Breathe. Meditate. See what Living Well has to offer!
7. Talk to a mental health professional. CAPS is here to support you.
Take a positive step towards your future. Even a small step can relieve stress. Stop by during our drop-ins at the Hub (M-TH: 1-4pm, F:1-3pm) or come to the Career Center and schedule an appointment for a longer conversation about your life direction and a balance between the present and the future.
–Brian Park, Career Counselor