Lesson 4: Coping with STRESS!

If anyone tells you they don't tend to suffer from stress, chances are, they're lying. We all get stressed from time to time. It only becomes a real problem if you don't deal with it very well. So, here's my top tips for coping with stress.

• Don't leave anything to the last minute. If you give yourself plenty of time to do that essay/lab report, it won't seem like such a huge task.
• Don't be scared to say no. If you really can't do a favour for a friend because you've got loads on, there are ways of letting people down gently. Perfect these and you'll be just fine. Careful though, you might not get a favour in return.
• Tell your friends how you're feeling. They're probably in the same boat as you and might have their own pieces of advice. 
• Take time to chill out. Set aside some time where you can just kick back and relax. This is absolutely vital. The more stressed you are, the less productive you'll be and the reason for your stress will only get bigger.
• Get some sleep. This might seem like a simple one, but making sure you get at least 8 hours kip is often something which is overlooked by students. Ask the people who frequent the library at 3am. They'll tell you how important sleep is.
• As with everything else, be sensible. If you've got an assignment to work on, a night out on the lash might seem like what you need, but trying to do an essay with a hangover is horrific. Sometimes, you just have to miss a night out. 
• On the other hand, make sure you leave time to have fun. If you spend all of your university life getting stressed in the confines of the library, you're not getting the most out of the wealth of opportunities available at uni. 
• If you're really not coping, there's no harm in going to see someone. A seminar leader, your academic advisor, or your university counsellor.