Here’s the deal: college is a very important time in your life.These years in college can offer a real taste of the amazing things that the independent adult life can offer. But between managing your academic time table, performing well in class, and juggling a healthy social life, we can all agree that college is often coupled with some degree of stress. But there’s really no need to worry.
This article will go over several ways on how to best prepare you to avoid stress while studying, ultimately allowing you to get the most out of your college experience.
Academic Performance
A survey conducted by Chegg in October of 2016 found that amongst college and high school students, 9 out of 10 were the most stressed out about achieving and maintaining their academic performance.
We can all agree that this makes a lot of sense. Being able to achieve good academic performance opens a lot of doors in terms of financial support and grad school applications.
However, there is a difference between a healthy want of academic improvement and academic-related stress that is outright destructive. The study found that in addition to academic performance being a stress factor, students were also concerned about finances, relationship issues, and their health and wellness. It’s basic math: stress + stress + stress + stress = not a good situation.
But don’t fret! It’s important to try to remain calm and think about the things that are causing you the most pressure and address the root of the problem directly. This way, you’ll have one less thing to worry about. Firstly, let’s address everybody’s favorite topic, getting good grades.
Getting Good Grades
Out of 728 college students surveyed, Chegg found that 92% of them thought that getting good grades and having a good GPA were among the highest academic stressors, followed closely by feeling fully prepared academically for college (75%), getting a good score on entrance exams such as the SAT (62%), and deciding on which college to attend (53%).
Don’t get us wrong. Getting good grades should definitely be a high priority for any student. Having a good GPA and taking your pre-requisite classes seriously is important to demonstrate your academic capabilities. There are plenty of simple study tips that can help you boost your GPA, but here are the top three tips to consider for stress-free studying:
- Dedicate Time to Study
Many students have smartphones these days, and almost every single one of them has a built-in calendar. Make sure to use it! Sync up your phone’s calendar to something like Google Calendar.
This will make it easier for you to organize your time and see where you have large blocks with nothing scheduled.
Take those open slots in your time table and dedicate them to studying. Make sure to study every day, too. Studying frequently will help you remember important information from that day’s class and help keep you caught up on the material. Keeping up and not falling behind is one of the simplest things you can do as a student to reduce your stress levels.
- Get Rid of Distractions
When you are ready to study during your scheduled study time, put non-essential electronics and other potential distractions away. Try not to be in a study area with too much noise or a TV that could possibly dissuade you from studying and catching up on your favorite shows. It’s definitely a good idea to take breaks every now and then, but when you sit down to hit the books, it’s best to eliminate all distractions if possible.
- Get a Study Buddy
Studying alone can sometimes be a bit challenging, whether it’s because your mind wanders or you’re having difficulty with the material and need a bit of help. Consider getting a study buddy! Having a study buddy can help you keep each other on task, bounce ideas off of one another, and work on those really tough questions that would be too difficult all by yourself.
Cost of Education
It’s no secret: college can be a bit pricy.
91% of students surveyed stated that the cost of education was a definite financial stressor. In addition to the cost of education, other financial stressors included find the money to pay for personal expenses, living on a strict budget, and student loans and repayments.
- Consider Getting a Part-Time Job
Obviously, a wonderful way to make a bit more money on the side to cover things like personal expenses is by getting a part-time job. There are plenty of opportunities campus, as well as in your local area.
Common part-time jobs like working at the college bookstore, being a teaching assistant, or working at the library are ideal because they can offer very flexible schedules that fit your academic time table. You can bring in a little income in your spare time and not have to worry about having work clash with school.
Short of that, you always have the option of working from the comforts of your own home. There are a lot of legitimate online opportunities like completing surveys for money, being a transcriptionist, or even online tutoring. You get to dictate your own schedule and get to earn as much as you want at any particular time.
- Apply for Scholarships and Bursaries
If you’ve been following the tips to boost your grades, and you have achieved a high enough level, a great way to reduce financially related stress in college is to apply for scholarships and bursaries.
Take the time and do some research. Find out if there are scholarships that your college offers that you think you qualify for. There’s no shame in at least applying. You could also consider external scholarship providers as well. There are tons of possibilities!
Balancing School & Life
College can give you a taste of what it’s like in the real world. 82% of surveyed college students stated that they struggled finding or managing a balance between school life and personal life. What it all comes down to is being organized and knowing yourself and your needs.
Relationships with Family and Friends
It’s important to remember family and friends. Find the time to call or hang out as frequently as possible. Being around those who support you is a great way to relieve stress. It’s a great opportunity to catch up on what you’ve been up to, what you’re learning, and overall maintaining your relationships with those closest to you.
- Learn to Live Independently
Living independently can be a great challenge at times, but think of it as a learning opportunity. Learn some important life skills that you’ll use forever like how to sew and mend clothing, do your own laundry, cook for yourself, and so on. Learning the skills needed to live independently can take a whole load of stress off your shoulders because you know that you can do anything you put your mind to. You’ve got this!
- Find a Hobby
Participating in an activity that you thoroughly enjoy is always super relaxing. Whether you like to go to the gym and work out, paint, write, take dance lessons, and so on, you can bet that having a hobby can help you destress and have a little “me time.” It’s important to take your academics seriously, but be sure that you don’t forget about yourself.
Bonus: Finding a Job Post-Graduation
Believe us when we say that almost everybody has asked this question: what am I doing with my life? Very few people find a job in their particular field of study directly out of college. In fact, it’s completely normal if you don’t.
- Networking – It’s Who You Know
At college, you get to meet a lot of new people: professors, fellow students, recent grads, etc. Do your best to get to know as many of them as you can. By networking, you stand a great chance of learning from others on how to get into your preferred career field. Be sure to ask questions and have an open mind when on the hunt for a job post-graduation. Try to get in touch with those who are working for employers that interest you. Successful networking can really help you get your foot in the door…
- Develop “Soft Skills”
And once you’ve got your foot in the door, remember that it takes both formal training and soft skills to be a successful employee. But you may be thinking, what are soft skills? How do I get them?
Soft skills can include your ability to communicate clearly, negotiation skills, ability to collaborate and work well with others, as well as the ability to think creatively and out of the box. They’re skills that help reflect your character as a potential employee.
While you’re still in college, take the chance to enroll in a public speaking course to help develop those communication skills. When you have group projects, do your best to step up and show off your leadership qualities. Employers love to see individuals who are well-rounded and are more than just their transcripts.
Conclusion
With these tips in mind, you’ll find it a lot easier to manage and deal with stressors common in a lot of college students’ lives. While grades are certainly important, they’re not as important as you’re overall wellbeing. By staying organized, learning to manage your time wisely, and knowing when to ask for help, you’ll be able definitely be able to achieve studying at college the stress-free way.
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