Stop the Stress: How to Navigate the College Class Load

Target – College Students

Whether it is your first semester of college or your last, it’s likely that you will feel overwhelmed with balancing the course load. Between studying for tests, completing homework and even managing a job and a social life, it’s challenging for many students to feel as if they are staying on top of all of their responsibilities and obligations.

However, with a few changes to your daily routine, you can stop – or at the very least, reduce – the stress to help you remain positive and productive.

Routine Changes

1) Embrace Positive Thinking: Many times, when overwhelmed, your mind might focus on the worst-case scenario. Common thoughts may include: “I’m going to fail this test.” “I can’t keep up with this workload.” However, if you change the way you think by focusing on the positive versus the negative, you are giving yourself a chance to succeed. Instead, change your thoughts to “I’m prepared for this test” and “I’m going to try my best.” Stress commonly causes students to move toward the negative, but if you are conscious about changing your thoughts, you can also positively change the outcome.

2) Seek Out Resources: Although stress is common when it feels like it’s too much to handle, ask for help. College institutions feature counseling and advising services with professionals who are trained to help college students cope with stress. Acting as a support system, these individuals can also point you in the right direction to find assistance with tutoring, peer study groups, library services, extracurricular activities and more. Use the resources that are available to you so you don’t have to shoulder the burden of stress by yourself.

3) Maintain Your Health: If you find yourself sacrificing lunch so you can get in another study session, you might be doing more harm than good. Instead of gorging on cold pizza on the run, make time to eat healthy. Green leafy vegetables and protein will give you the energy you need to complete your homework and study. Stray from sugary energy drinks that ultimately cause you to crash when you need to be alert and ready to take on new challenges.

4) Exercise Regularly: Part of being a college student is learning how to prioritize. While it may not seem like you have time for a walk across campus or a mid-morning jog, you will be boosting your energy and your mental alertness if you do. Take along some note cards so you can study while getting in some exercise at the campus gym or listen to a podcast or some music to take your mind off the stress of cramming for exams.

5) Incorporate Time Management Strategies Into Your Routine: Time management is not something you conquer in one day, but if you take baby steps, you can actively prioritize your to-do list and accomplish more than you imagined, which ultimately helps reduce stress. Start by making a list of action items and then breaking these down into subcategories. As you conquer each task, feel a sense of accomplishment when you cross it off the list. It can also help to use a planner to keep track of weekly obligations and academic responsibilities. Many colleges offer planners for free to help you manage your time.

While it’s not realistic to think that you will not encounter any type of stress as a college student, there are ways to manage it so you feel less overwhelmed. Know that the Leon N. Weiner Education Foundation is here to support your efforts and encourage you along the way. The mission of the Leon N. Weiner Education Foundation is to build foundations for the future by providing educational assistance to children and adults who are members of families with low to moderate incomes. Learn more about these opportunities at The Leon N. Weiner Foundation.

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Steps to Success: How Extracurricular Activities Positively Impact Academics

Target: K-12

It’s no secret that getting involved in extracurricular activities is good for the body and the soul. But, did you know that it is also good for your mind? According to the National Center for Education Statistics, extracurricular activities help to reinforce lessons students learn in the classroom. In fact, the activities give students, especially those in K-12, a chance to practice these academic skills in a real-world environment. 

Applying skills learned in the classroom by actively participating in extracurricular activities such as athletics, music and art helps provide a much more well-rounded education for each student. In addition, the NCES suggests that students are more likely to be engaged and attached to their school when involved in these types of extracurricular activities. 

The Endless List of Benefits

While many students engage in extracurricular activities because they are interested in a specific activity or club, many don’t realize that being involved brings so many more benefits to light. 

During a crucial time in a child’s learning, being involved in music, art and athletics after school helps them to develop intellectually, emotionally and socially. Here’s How: 

• Children Develop Diversified Interests: It’s true that a child may feel inspired during a classroom discussion or even after reading a chapter in a textbook, he or she can be just as inspired outside of the classroom when exploring interests. For some, extracurricular activities have led students to find their passion, step outside of their comfort zone and engaged with others who they may not typically engage within the classroom. They have the opportunity to learn more about their interests, likes and dislikes through participation in an extracurricular activity. 

• Children Learn About Commitment: Being involved helps students learn about commitment. For example, when joining the marching band, you have other musicians who depend on you to practice. As part of an athletic team, you are expected to work well with your teammates. Students learn how to be committed to something that benefits more than just themselves. 

• Children Build Self-Esteem: Not only is being a part of a team or an organization beneficial for students to learn new skills, but it can also help build their self-esteem. Imagine the sense of achievement that comes from bettering yourself in a casual, non-classroom environment. Students begin to recognize their strengths and build upon them, ultimately boosting their confidence along the way. 

• Children Learn Time Management: Juggling schoolwork and extracurricular activities requires students to manage their time effectively. In many instances, they are quick to master their homework or study for a test just to get the opportunity to be involved in clubs and athletics. Skills surrounding prioritizing are also strengthened, which are skills that can be carried over into the classroom.

Making the Most Out of Extracurricular Activities

Although students apply skills learned in the classroom in the real world through extra-curricular activities, they also form bonds with others, make friends and learn how to cooperate. These are hands-on skills that cannot be taught from a textbook or a lecture, and they are skills that will help offer children a much-more well-rounded educational experience. 

The Leon N. Weiner Education Foundation is available to assist with furthering involvement in educational endeavors and extracurricular activities. The mission of the Leon N. Weiner Education Foundation is to build foundations for the future by providing educational assistance to children and adults who are members of families with low to moderate incomes. Learn more about these opportunities at The Leon N. Weiner Education Foundation.

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