Stress

College life can be a lot of fun, but it's not without its stresses! These stresses can be physical, mental, social, or emotional in nature. But any way you slice it, they can be taxing for your mind and body. They can also have implications for your ability to engage healthfully in the social and academic spheres of the University. For instance, student surveys at Cornell show that the following issues are the most likely to have impeded their academic performance. How many of them can you relate to?

• Sleep difficulties
• Colds, flu, strep throat 
• Internet use/gaming
• Relationship difficulties
• Concern for others (friend/relative)
• Depression, anxiety, or another mental health concern
  

So what is stress?

Stress is the "wear and tear" our bodies and minds experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment. It has physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions, and can create positive or negative feelings.

• As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action and bring a sense of excitement or exhilaration to our lives.
• As a negative influence, it can result in fatigue, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, eating disorders, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. 

We experience stress as we navigate our day-to-day challenges and responsibilities. Our ability to manage this stress is vital to our physical, emotional, social (and academic!) well-being.

Make a commitment to reduce stress

Common misperceptions about stress can get in the way of taking care of yourself and maintaining balance. Consider these:

• "Stress is a fact of life and there is nothing you can do about it." Actually, there is much you can do to combat unhealthy stress. Check out the many links in this section and learn what may work for you.
• "Pulling all-nighters is the only way to out-perform others on pre-lims." Wrong! Getting regular sleep not only helps your body "de-stress," but is key to successful academic performance. Read our sleep "Let's CU Sleep!" fact sheet (pdf) for details.  
• "We work hard…we need to play hard." If "playing hard" means alcohol and late nights, you're stressing your body more than you may realize. Playing "in moderation" is probably a smarter strategy. Read more about the ups and downs of alcohol as it affects the body and mind.
• "Talking with a counselor is just a waste of time." If your idea of meeting with a counselor is lying on a couch and free-associating or spilling your guts for years on end, you may want to rethink: Consider "Let's Talk" as a starting place. No free associating required!

Assess your stress level throughout the semester, especially around mid-terms and finals. Make a conscious effort to keep it in check. This may mean stepping up your efforts to exercise or get more sleep, or simply spending quality time with friends. Remember: "Desserts is stressed spelled backwards!"