As a student at The University of Alabama, things can get stressful. Whether it's because you've just moved into a Tuscaloosa apartment or have a tough schedule this semester, everyone gets overwhelmed sometimes. It's important to have some ways of managing the rough days and long nights so that you can stay on track. Prioritizing academics, health, and your social calendar is quite a feat. With some effort though, you'll have what it takes to do just that!
Stay organized
One of the best ways to reduce stress and stay on top of everything is to plan ahead. Things like calendars and planners, physical or virtual, are fantastic tools for scheduling out your week. Writing in deadlines for each assignment or study plans leading up to exams are both great ways to make sure that you're never caught off guard by what your classes are throwing at you. Adding social events to your organizer of choice adds an extra layer of organization. Going to a date party on Thursday night? Buckle down in the first half of the week and knock out your work so that midnight deadlines aren't hanging over your head. Writing things down is a simple but extremely effective tool for managing your time and making sure you have space in your schedule for the fun that college life has to offer.
Get out, get active
Even with the best plan in the world, some things are going to stress you out. Projects will take longer than you thought, writers block will take hold, a whole host of issues could befall you. Rather than simply letting the tension build within you, take time to be active and get your mind off your work. Counterintuitively, one of the best things you can do when you hit a wall is to step away, literally, and get the blood flowing. It'll renew your focus and possibly help you to think about problems from another angle. Working out is also a great way to shake off the stress that piles up from your everyday workload. Plus, you'll reap the health benefits of making it a regular practice. Whether you need to look at a problem with fresh eyes or blow off some steam, exercise is a great option.
Time to unwind
In today's world there's a lot of pressure to always be productive. But every free moment doesn't have to be filled with work. There's no shame whatsoever in calling it a day once you've had a good, productive stretch. Hanging out with friends near your UA apartment near the Quad, reading a book, spending time in nature, all of these are great ways to recover some energy once you've powered through your assignments for the day or week. Plus, it's a whole lot more fun than staying cooped up in your room looking for more work to do!
Campus resources
If you're going through a particularly rough time and need some help getting through it, The University of Alabama has resources for students through the Counseling Center. Anything from mental health screenings to getting support from peers to programs put on by the Division of Student Life are available for Bama students. Having a rigorous schedule is only one of countless issues someone might face. In any one of them, though, you don't have to go it alone.
No doubt, being a student is a lot of pressure. Academics are a top priority, but they don't have to eclipse the enjoyable parts of university life. If you take the time to organize your schedule and plan ahead, everything else begins to fall into place. Staying healthy and seeing friends can slide seamlessly into your day-to-day, and even help you to redouble your scholastic efforts. Researching Bama off-campus housing can be overwhelming to add to a growing to-do list, but with a solid stress management framework you'll have nothing to worry about.