Four tips to a more sustainable student life

There is a difference between stress and pressure. It is a good idea to understand what stress really is and how you can know if you are starting to experience it. This way, you can better recognize it and address it in time.

Symptoms of stress:

• Physical (e.g., headache, fatigue, palpitations)
• Mental (e.g., difficulty concentrating, depression, anxiety)
• Behavioral (e.g., becoming more introverted, having a short temper, etc.)

Pressure, in a reasonable amount, is not dangerous and can actually contribute to better performance and help us develop. But it must not become too much, as it can then turn into stress. Therefore, it is a good idea to understand what the symptoms of stress are.

We say that you have stress when the sum of pressures exceeds your resources.

You need to be your own best friend.

It is important to learn to listen to the signals your body sends and act on them. Just as a sprinter needs to recover between sprints, you also need to make sure to rest and relax between intense study periods.

It is also a good idea to make a list of what gives you energy and what drains you of energy. This way, you can better allocate time to the things that give you energy, so you don’t end up completely “drained.”

This could be, for example, going for a walk, listening to music, exercising and practicing mindfulness, seeing friends – or just relaxing on the sofa.

When we recover and do things that give us energy, we also optimize our learning and development, which, for example, benefits exam preparation.

Structure and breaks are some of the best ways to prevent stress.

When under pressure, it can be difficult to manage things – and difficulty concentrating is one of the most common symptoms of stress. Here, it can be helpful to structure your day.

Schedule both academic, personal, and social tasks/activities.

Research shows that we need breaks to perform well. So remember to take good breaks away from the screen during the day. If, for example, the start of your studies feels overwhelming, a checklist can be a good way to get an overview of tasks.

The first step is to acknowledge if you are struggling.

We have become better at it, but stress has been a taboo for too long.

We have a human instinct and social need to fit in, and we will do everything not to appear vulnerable, insecure, and fallible. This can be especially true in a study environment where you may not know anyone or dare to admit that you find it difficult to keep up or fit in. Often, it turns out that many others feel exactly the same way, and it can be a relief to open up. And it can help prevent things from piling up and becoming bigger and more unmanageable.

Maybe it’s not you, but your fellow student who is struggling to create balance in everyday life. Reach out. It benefits you both.

Stress is an increasing problem in society, especially among young people. And if we don’t talk openly about it, we will never break the vicious circle and change the culture. So if you notice symptoms of stress, or are unsure if it is, reach out and ask for help.

Also, feel free to ask if you are worried about a fellow student or a friend. They may not have realized that they are heading towards stress – or they may be afraid to admit it.