Students, Schedules, and Stress
As another semester begins at USC, an all-too-familiar bit of advice is given to nearly every new freshman
Get involved.
And while every Trojan wants to make his or her mark at USC — whether it be through volunteering with Troy Camp, pledging a fraternity or running for a position in building government — every Trojan also knows the pressure and stress that accompanies being involved in a multitude of activities while also trying to balance a heavy course load.
But does everyone know how harmful that stress can actually be?
According to USC's National College Health Assessment Report for 2009, 28 percent of undergraduate students said the leading factor that affected their academic performances was stress. 15.8 percent of graduate students said the same thing. And while research shows a little bit of stress actually acts as a motivator and can be beneficial to the learning process, high levels of stress often result in chronic physical symptoms: headaches, nausea, muscle pain, a change in weight, and frequent cold or flus can affect stressed-out individuals more often than they would like.
On top of physical problems, a long list of mental and emotional cues are linked to high levels of stress as well. Those under stress might find themselves feeling more impatient or short-tempered than usual, and find it more difficult to concentrate on a task at hand. It might grow harder for them to remember things, they might become more worried about day-to-day concerns or experience a decrease in libido. Some stress even develops into an anxiety disorder or depression.
But what is more important to students is how to cope with the higher levels of stress that accompany college. Many times, students will turn to other behaviors that can accompany college — over consumption of alcohol — in an effort to deal with the stress they face on a day-to-day basis. While social interaction can help relieve some stress and a party might temporarily take your mind off your worries, there are other methods you can use to reduce the impact stress has on your life — and not feel hungover the next day.
First, research shows exercise is one of the best ways to combat stress. Thirty minutes of vigorous exercise each day — think playing basketball behind New/North or hitting an elliptical at the Lyon Center — not only helps students stay in a good physical shape, but in a good mental state as well. Exercise releases endorphins, which help block stress and depression naturally.
For those who have trouble sleeping at night, rhythmic breathing or meditation are also good ways to combat stress. Meditation is usually done in a sitting position, where one will rest with his or her eyes closed and focus on the silent repetition of a single word or phrase. Rhythmic breathing can be done anywhere — sitting, standing in line at the grocery store or in bed — and involves taking long, slow breaths for five to 10 minutes. Each of these methods are designed to help the body relax by slowing the heart and breathing rates, and when one is physically calm, a sense of mental calm often is present as well.
At USC, students can also enroll in five different sections of PHED-160, "Stress Management for Healthy Living." Brought to the university in 2007, the two-unit course teaches students how to understand and cope with stress through exercise and other outlets. With sections meeting every day of the week, the biggest problem for interested students is the fact that many other students are interested as well. Although the university has added sections of the class as its popularity increased, according to USC's web registration website, three of the sections are already full.
Finally, one of the biggest ways to avoid the long-term effects of stress is to prevent long-term stress. An easy way to do this is by talking to someone — family, friends, roommates — about problems or concerns you might have. Expressing emotions and talking about feelings, instead of internalizing them, can help alleviate stress in many ways. The other person might be able to offer advice on the matter and help find a solution to the problem at hand. And whether they offer advice or not, getting something off your chest — instead of dealing with them single-handedly — will help a lot.
While these methods will be useful for coping with stress throughout the semester, perhaps there is a bigger issue lost in the day-to-day routines of long to-do lists and busy schedules. Everyone wants to get involved and make a mark on campus, but do the ends justify the means? If the average student spends their day stressed, tired and anxious because of all of the activities he or she is involved in, should the university intervene on behalf of the students? The course offered through the Physical Education department — along with classes in yoga — is a good step in the right direction, and as more students express interest, one would hope USC will continue to create additional sections. But what else can be done? Should incoming students be given information on the academic effects of stress by their Resident Advisers? Should RAs check in with their residents and make sure they aren't overextending themselves? When does chronic stress become a problem?
Ultimately, college is about trial and error and spending four years learning about yourself before diving into the real world. As part of this, students need to find a healthy balance between the work they have to do, the extracurriculars they volunteer their time to, and all the (normal) amounts of stress that come with college.