Blog 1: Life as a College Student

As a college student, there are a lot of expectations that need to be met, such as having a good GPA, being involved on campus, acquiring a leadership role, being a part of an honor society, gaining experience in an internship, and the list goes on. With this list of expectations comes stress, a common feeling that is felt, especially in the years of college life. However, I am not discrediting the life experience that is gained through the years of an individual’s college experience as it is the time that one grows into a mature, well-rounded adult. Even so, stress can be detrimental to both your physical and mental health and that is why I will be discussing strategies to prevent and counteract stress. First, we need to answer the following: Will the incorporation of physical and mental health strategies from a college student’s perspective allow the further understanding and commencing of these strategies for the well-being of incoming or currently enrolled students in college?

According to the American Institute of Stress, incoming freshmen are now more aware of the stress college brings due to the heavy requirements and lengthy process of college applications (The American Institute of Stress, 2019). Society has pushed on us the pressures of getting accepted into and graduating from college, however, like anything, stress can be overcome. It is important that institutions like colleges promote physical and mental health by stimulating the mind and body to counteract stress levels, to allow the well-being of students to thrive since, “. . . these institutions are important venues that can encourage an active lifestyle and a balanced diet” (Waldron & Dieser, 2010, p. 65). However, no one said it is easy to fit these strategies of physical and mental health exercises into your busy schedule of classes and study. Trust me, I know. But it is imperative since your physical and mental well-being are an important priority to maintain to stay healthy. Especially now that COVID-19 is affecting everyone around the world. Nevertheless, being quarantined should not stop you from having daily exercise and eating healthily. In the next couple of weeks, I will be discussing techniques to remain active physically and mentally in your lifestyle. Stay tuned and stay healthy!

#stress #societalexpectations #stayhealthy

Please reach out or comment below on any personal experiences that you feel comfortable sharing!

References:

The American Institute of Stress. (2019). Stress: An epidemic among college students. https://www.stress.org/stress-an-epidemic-among-college-students

Waldron, J., J., & Dieser, R., B. (2010). Perspectives of fitness and health in college men and women. Journal of College Student Development, 51(1), 65-78. http://doi.org/10.1353/csd.0.0110