University Star

Texas State students need to find ways to manage high stress levels as coursework and tests begin to pile up in the coming weeks.

Students who decide to embark on the journey of higher education will likely encounter distress at some point. College students are constantly hammered with lofty expectations, huge course loads and a number of different responsibilities outside of school. The amount of stress students experience is tremendous, and the resulting negative effects are becoming more apparent.

According to a Feb. 8 Huffington Post article featuring a 2012 study by the American Psychological Association, the generation with the highest reported stress level is the millennials. The millennial group, which includes those who range in age from 18 to 33, reported experiencing a 39 percent increase in stress during the past year, according to the same article. This information can easily resonate with the Texas State students who are categorized as millennials.

A reminder about stress management is appropriate at a time when midterms are in full swing and project season is beginning. It is imperative students keep a keen eye out for signs they may be getting more stressed than usual. A little bit of increased stress is healthy. But if things begin to feel overwhelming, the problem should be identified and addressed.

The effects of prolonged high stress levels can be detrimental to classwork. It is not uncommon for students to be plagued with a week or two of what seems like an entire syllabus full of work. However, if a student carries the weight of stress for a long period of time, it could take a serious toll on academic performance. This, in turn, could translate into a further heightening of taxing thoughts and feelings for a student.

Managing high stress levels is not hard, as some may think. Simple daily habits can reduce the weight of stress in moments of panic. Some suggestions for stress management include exercising, calling family members and reading a book to relax, according to the Huffington Post article.

Students who feel overly pressed for time should consider talking with academic advisers and visiting the Counseling Center on campus. Students can rest assured, whether the sources of stress are school-related or personal, they will be able to find much-needed help through their fellow Bobcat peers.

With the spring season dawning, students may feel a positive kick toward their study habits and time management. Warmer weather and brighter skies can wash away the last bit of cold weather blues some students may suffer from during the winter months. Thoughts of spring break, summer vacation and graduation can greatly reduce frustrations or serve as serious fuel for students to lower stress and make these times more enjoyable.

Students should realize times of panic might happen every once in awhile, but ongoing stress must be seen as a more serious problem. It should be a priority and a goal for students to manage stress in a productive and safe way to make the college experience more enjoyable.