Having trouble coping with stress?

As college students, we tend to pile a lot onto our plates. It can be difficult to balance work and school, maintaining a social life while getting a degree, and one’s home life. These are some of the many contributing factors to stress. Being able to cope with stress in healthy ways is extremely important.

Stress can have negative effects on our physical health, such as increasing risk of heart-related diseases, asthma, and gastrointestinal problems. Mental health can be affected by stress as well, as stress increases the likelihood of developing anxiety, depression or sometimes substance abuse.

The physical, mental and emotional effects of stress often make it harder for students to learn. One of the behaviors that can be caused by stress is procrastination. As a result, we may become unmotivated to attend classes or complete assignments.

Santa Monica College (SMC) student Julia Lozano explains the negative impact of stress on her life, saying it causes her to have “low energy” and “feel drained a lot of the time.”

"I feel like it’s caused me to have an overthinking problem,” said Lozano. “And it also leads me to procrastination.”

Lozano also said that obligations outside of school have contributed to her stress levels. She has two jobs, and works 30 hours a week while taking two classes at SMC.

“I feel like I don’t have the healthiest habits, but I’m learning to have healthier habits,” she said.

Despite feeling like she didn’t have healthy coping methods, Lozano gave examples of what she does when she feels stressed. “I go to therapy on the side. But I also try to, you know, I try to meditate,” she said. “Sometimes I also like to read because I feel like it de-stresses my mind. Sometimes I just like to exercise, like that helps me go to a happy place.”

According to a 2022 study by The American College Health Association, 77 percent of college students experienced a state of stress, 35 percent experienced anxiety, and 27 percent experienced depression during their spring semester. The American Institute of Stress reports that “eight in 10 college students experience frequent bouts of stress.”

As a first-year college student here at SMC, I also struggle with maintaining a healthy balance between work and school. I work five days out of the week, am enrolled in three courses and often have to go to work directly after class.

So how do I cope with my stress while being a student and working full-time?

I read as an escape from my life any chance that I get. Although my schedule is jam-packed, I squeeze in time for cardio at my local gym. Another stress reliever that I find helpful (for me, not my wallet) is retail therapy. Amazon, Sephora and Target are my kryptonite. Books and skincare are two of the things that help me unwind after a long day at work or school — which is why I tend to head to all three stores when my paycheck hits. It doesn’t help that there are new books, skincare and makeup lines coming out every two weeks either.

Of course, there are days when I don’t cope with my stress well. When I do experience days where the stress wins, I notice the effects that it has on my behavior. Although I’m usually a positive person, I get noticeably grouchy and negative. It takes a toll on my body. I feel drained of energy, as if I haven’t been getting the proper rest that I need.

Recently I have realized that I have more bad days than good. The more work and school-related tasks that I take on, feels like another load added onto my stress. Some days I make the decision to skip a class or two and spend the day resting for my mental well-being.

I have also learned that it is OK to take time for yourself and recuperate. It is OK to miss a few assignments here and there. Yes, those assignments may be important, but so is my mental and physical health.

Finding healthy ways to cope with stress can help us put our best foot forward and have a positive outlook on life.

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