This page contains relevant information and resources for students concerned about stress and managing their study time.

Stress is defined as physical, mental, or/and emotional responses that causes bodily or mental tension either positively or negatively.

Signs of stress include:

• Faster heart beat
• Hostility
• Appetite change
• Sleep disorder
• Worry and anxiety
• Out of control
• Reduced attention
• Being more tried
• More alcohol / drugs / smoking
• Outrage
• Sexual disorders
• Aches or diarrhea

A common source of stress is not feeling sufficiently in control of important aspects of your life. Students are vulnerable to stress because their world includes many things that they have no real control over: classes that have to be attended, assignments with deadlines, exams.

Corey (2001), a renowned counsellor from the United States stated that if humans fail to meet one of human needs such as survival, love and belonging, power and achievement, freedom and fun, humans will feel bad and stressed.

Ways of Keeping Stress Manageable

• Take control of as much of your life as you can. Manage your time effectively.
• Keep a balance in life: attend classes, work on assignments, but make time for family, exercise, friends, and recreation.
• Schedule breaks and “time-outs” so you can recover from periods of high pressure in your studies.
• Share you issues with your family members, close friends or counsellors.
• Learn how to solve problems effectively.
• Think positive, smile and relax.

What you can do when stress looks like being a problem

• Identify the source. Make a list of the kinds of tasks you are dealing with. Has something new and unexpected blown up? Look at each in turn: how important is it in your life really? Can it be put on hold for a while? Can it be dropped?
• Bring in additional help. If you have identified tasks that have to be done but they are especially difficult, can you get extra help? See your Lecturer or Course Coordinator if you think an extension of time would help. Ask a trusted student friend how she/he is managing the task in question.
• Make an appointment to see a Counsellor on your campus. The Counsellor can give you one-on-one help to identify sources of stress, explore options for managing these, and put into action effective ways of stressing less.

Some stress can be quite normal and even beneficial in terms of motivation, however when it gets too great, it can be hard to concentrate on study at all. As your fellow students are usually in a similar situation, it can also be helpful to talk to your class-mates and friends to find out how they deal with the stress. The best solution to stress, however, is usually better time management and early preparation to avoid that last minute panic.