EDITORIAL: It’s crunch time, remember to stop and smell the roses
Stress is not unique to college, start taking care of yourself now
Grant freshmen Sam Clouser (left) and Megan Wolverton (right) hammock Friday, April 7 in the Fabiano, Emmons and Woldt (FEW) courtyard. As the weather warms up, many students can be seen using the hammock poles in the dorm courtyards or the trees in the Fabiano Gardens to hang their hammocks up.
We are tired. You too? You’re not alone.
It’s that time of the year, again. The end-of-the-semester slump is in full force. With the sun shining for what feels like the first time in months, it may seem impossible to find the time – or bandwidth – to spend time outside, or at the very least, do your work outside.
It’s important to start enforcing positive habits now to deal with stress because it is not unique to college. It’s something we’ll have to cope with our whole lives.
According to the National Institutes of Health, taking the time to feel gratitude can improve your emotional well-being and help you cope with stress. You can do this in your head or in a journal.
A few other ways to cope with stress include meditation, exercise, talking to others and setting time to unwind.
There is always time to stop and prioritize your well-being. A study from the American Psychological Association’s "Stress in America 2020" found Gen Z young adults had significantly higher stress levels than any other generation.
We can all change that trend. As the semester comes to a close, think about ways to better your next semester or life after graduation. Learning to manage your stress — and take care of yourself before it overwhelms you — is a skill that will serve you in every facet of life.
Whether you have three weeks or three years left in your college journey, stop and smell the roses. Enjoy every second. The stress may seem to consume all your emotional space, but this is still your college experience. So, every now and then, whether you’re up to ears studying for finals, completing assignments, or planning for the future, remember this is all a part of the coveted college experience.
An experience doesn’t mean it’s all good. College is made up of good and bad times with happiness, sadness and everything in between. Give yourself the grace to experience them all fully.
