You can be separated from home, forced to share a living space with strangers, and have to search for an independent identity.
And that is only the beginning. Some students also find it exhausting to keep up with the demands of college life. Today, academic burnout and stress are treatable. The first step is noticing and acknowledging the symptoms.
Top Causes of Burnout, Stress & Anxiety in College
Check our list of reasons why you might suffer from burnout:
1. The Feeling of Isolation
When you are thrown into a new environment, your only way to go through this is to adapt. However, it is not as easy for everyone. Making friends in college can be quite tricky for everyone. There are a lot of opportunities to meet people in the first few weeks. The class introductions and orientations are designed with this purpose. When this time is over, not everyone finds themselves a group to hang out with.
Even with all the amiability around, some students might not be able to maintain contact due to their nature. It might be more challenging for introverts to initiate a conversation. It would be best to start a friendship with someone in your class or your dorm, so you will likely see them more often.
2. Separation From Family and Friends
Even the most outgoing and confident student will miss their family in college. Some can handle it better. Moving into a new campus comes with its pressure. The absence of your family and friends could make you feel disoriented. If one is unable to make friends immediately, the loneliness will only make the homesickness worse.
This reflects in all parts of college life, from academic performance to taking initiatives to enjoy any group activities, increasing the risk of anxiety.
3. Academic Workload
One might say that today's students have it easy. They find everything they need on the internet. However, these days, a lot more is expected of a student as well. They not only need to triumph in academics, but they also need to chase part-time jobs and internships.
When you are required to take on more projects than you have time for, you will naturally feel the pressure. If you find yourself stuck and unable to complete the assignments, you might be feeling huge pressure. But keep in mind that you can always speak to professors or seek help online.
To address the stress of your workload, you need to prioritize and delegate some tasks when required. But before you do that, be sure to read essay writing reviews and other academic services so that you can make an informed decision. You will also need to focus on time-management skills that can significantly reduce the feelings of burnout.
4. Feeling of Lack of Control
Burnout is not only caused by academic distress. If you feel that you are not able to control your life efficiently, it could translate to anxiety, stress, and other mental issues. For instance, your part-time job might be clashing with your class schedules. A blog you started might be more demanding than you anticipated. Or worse, your professor might be assigning too many deadlines that you cannot meet. Many a time, these make students feel helpless about their burnout.
Ask yourself what you can do to change this situation. It might be possible to tweak your work schedules or tackle assignments with better planning.
5. Pressure Over Grades
Though academic performance is fundamental to the college experience, that is not the only part of it. Do not limit yourself only to academics. You might get a few low grades at times, but you will also excel in other areas. As you know, academics are not the only factor that will determine your success after you graduate. In other words, there is more to college than just grades.
You need to balance all opportunities, and most importantly, prioritize your health. If you are too anxious about grades, it will only have an adverse effect on your grades. Only you can relieve the pressure you put on yourself.
College can be a rewarding experience for the majority of students. There is the excitement of infinite possibilities and the prospect of a new direction in life. However, you have to put yourself first. If you need help, you would be able to get it on your campus itself. Today, colleges offer resources that include academic counsel, peer interactions, and support. If you struggle with anxiety, do not hesitate to find a mental health provider who can guide you in navigating your student life.
Top Tips to Help
Here are some of our top recommendations for how to manage or reduce stress and anxiety at College:
- 1. Have a healthy diet
- 2. Get regular exercise
- 3. Do relaxing things like yoga and Meditation
- 4. Take lots of study breaks
- 5. Keep yourself busy
- 6. Get lots of sleep
- 7. Don't drink too much and quit smoking
- 8. Have a positive outlook
- 9. Listen to music
- 10. Be social
Do you have any recommendations? Let us know in the comments section below.