Advice from the American Psychological Association (APA)

–Stress is a part of life. However, more and more college students consistently report feeling stressed, depressed or anxious. Many factors can contribute to college student’s stress, such as our physical and social environments, finances,relationships, academic expectations and planning for the future. The amount of stress a student can handle can depend on a variety of personal and environmental factors. How students deal with and manage stress can significantly impact their health, attitudes and behaviors. Research suggests a little stress is good, in fact it may aid in our decision making, but chronic stress can have long-term consequences. Practicing healthy habits and avoiding negative influences have been shown to decrease stress levels among college students.

The following are a list of scientifically proven techniques to help lower stress:

Deep breathing exercises

Deep breathing can help ease stress and reduce tension. This technique involves taking slow deep breaths in and out from your abdomen, which will allow you to get more oxygen, helping you feel more relaxed and less anxious.

Journal

Keep a journal of your daily thoughts, ideas and feelings. Use it as a tool to either examine your mental health, process your emotions or release frustrations.

–Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness involves being focused on the present rather than being concerned about the future. Mindfulness meditation may help increase focus, awareness and may help you avoid overthinking. During mindfulness exercises, it is important to live in the moment and using your senses to evaluate your experiences.

–Yoga or Tai chi

In addition to physical benefits, yoga can offer mental benefits. Yoga, and similar activities, can help lower stress, enhance mood and may help decrease anxiety.

–Try positive thinking

Challenge negative thoughts or feelings. Negative thoughts or perceptions of yourself or the world around you may lead to lower self-esteem, reduced happiness or decreased life satisfaction.

Guided Imagery

Guided imagery and related techniques may help you escape the stressful parts of life. This approach promotes a mind-body connection by activating the senses, which may help improve focus and state of mind.

References: 

American Psychological Association. (2019, November 1). Healthy ways to handle life's stressors. http://apa.org/topics/stress-tips

Beiter, R., Nash, R., McCrady, M., Rhoades, D., Linscomb, M., Clarahan, M., & Sammut, S. (2015). The prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of college students. Journal of affective disorders, 173, 90-96.

Bland,H. W., Melton, B. F., Welle, P., & Bigham, L. (2012). Stress Tolerance: New Challenges for Millennial College Students. College Student Journal, 46(2), 362–375. 

Kassymova, K., Kosherbayeva, N., Sangilbayev, S., & Schachl, H. (2018). Stress management techniques for students. International Conference on the Theory and Practice of Personality Formation in Modern Society (2018). Atlantis Press.

Morgado, P., Sousa, N., & Cerqueira, J. J. (2015). The impact of stress in decision making in the context of uncertainty. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 93(6), 839-847.