Stressed? 9 tips on how to reduce stress during studies

During the semester, you have one university event after the next and when there are no more lectures a mountain of exams awaits you - so much for those carefree university years! 

Do you feel the same way? If you don't get time to rest on top of your studies, part-time job and everyday stresses, then it's time to change something. Finally get out of your hamster wheel! With our 9 tips on reducing stress you will learn how to recognise stress and deal with it better.

Study stress: try these 9 tips

We should say this from the outset: stress is not something inherently negative. As long as you have fun in what you are doing, you can feel positive stress and be full of energy. However with negative stress we have the feeling that everything is slipping out of our control and become overwhelmed. If you are constantly feeling negative stress, you lose the focus you need to do well in your studies. 

To prevent your stress levels from rising any further, you should try to manage your stress now. Our 3 x 3 tips on reducing stress will help you to better deal with stress going forward.

Free your mind: stress management methods for the mind

As the saying goes: "It’s not stress that kills us, it’s our reaction to it." And indeed, stress often arises first in your mind. Whether we get stressed because of all the appointments, exams and so on depends mostly on how we evaluate the situation ourselves and how calmly we deal with the stress. You will see that with the right mindset and a few changes to your daily structure, you can go a long way to lowering your stress levels. 

Tip #1 - Get to know your stress

What is it exactly that stresses you out so much? Is it the many deadlines and tasks at university or do you strive for perfection? In order to better manage your stress, the first step is to understand who you are actually dealing with. Only then can you clear your mind and start to switch off the stress factors. 

For example, keep a stress diary and note down the situations that put you under particular pressure. Also talk to a friend about what's on your mind. Sometimes you can get to the crux of a problem much faster by discussing it with others.

Tip #2 - Put your university life in order

Wild and free: that's how you imagined student life - and now you're supposed to become more organised as well as dealing with everyday stresses? Really! Because it's often a lack of structure that's the actual stress trigger. 

It is best to make a plan for the following day the evening before: do you have appointments, do you have to study for exams etc.? Write everything down and then prioritise tasks. This way you can filter what is really important and what can wait. Thanks to this stress management technique, you will no longer need to sit in bed at night pondering tomorrow's to-do list, and you can get to work feeling well-rested. 

Tip #3 - Ask for help

You think you have to do it all by yourself? But hey - nobody's perfect! What's wrong with at least asking for help with things you're not good at? For example, the next paper you have to hand in at university. Does the very thought of it trigger feelings of stress? 

Then find a fellow student who can speak well in front of a group and let them coach you. Ask other students how they deal with stress in their studies. Surely you can learn something from this and there are certainly many opportunities where you can all support each other.

Your body is your temple: stress management methods for the body

Yes, your body is your potential. If you don't take good care of it, you will eventually notice when stressed. Headaches, fatigue, heartburn are just a few of the symptoms that everyday stress is getting too much. 

Fortunately, there are many stress management techniques that help you to reduce physical stress as well. Here are our tips to fight stress for the body.

Tip #4 - Ensure you sleep well

Starting the day well-rested is so important for achieving the best possible performance in your studies. Too little sleep puts real stress on your body. During the night we recharge our empty batteries. Only then are we protected against everyday stresses and make better progress in our studies. 

So ensure good sleeping conditions and regular bedtimes. Soon you won't want to do without your new routine!

Tip #5 - You are what you eat

You forget to eat because you are stressed with your studies - and when you're hungry, you reach for fast food and sweet snacks. After all, it has to be quick when under time pressure. 

But one thing is for sure: if you eat unhealthy stuff, you will get a quick boost of energy, but just as quickly it's gone again. Go for healthy foods that make you more resistant to stress. Nuts, for example, can have a positive effect on brain performance!

Tip #6 - Move

For many people, exercising and simply switching off is the ideal balance to everyday stress. Endurance sports in particular release endorphins and serotonin - stress-reducing hormones that can lift your mood. 

Sports aren't your thing? Even a walk in the fresh air can help take your mind off things and cope better with stress at university.

Balm for the soul: stress management techniques for your mind

Last but not least, you must not forget your mental well-being. Because even if everyday stress only manifests itself physically, mental stress may also be behind it. These tips for reducing stress are absolute food for the soul.

Tip #7 - Say "No" more often

The best method for reducing stress is if you can just say "no" sometimes. Maybe you're afraid you'll offend others, but - honestly - you can't please everyone! It is much more important that you do well and are less stressed. 

Paying attention to your personal boundaries and saying "no" more often gives you inner strength and helps to prevent stress before it arises.

Tip #8 - Social media detox

Shortly after waking up, the first thing you do is reach for your smartphone and even while you are actually busy with learning, you keep checking Instagram, Facebook etc. The fear of missing something (FOMO) and being on auto-pilot keep driving you to open your apps. 

The result: you lose focus, don't manage your tasks and are mega stressed at the end of the day. Treat yourself urgently to a social media timeout to de-stress and have time for yourself again. 

Tip #9 - Accept stress

Stress in itself is something quite normal and part of life. Stress can help us to be careful and to avoid danger. That is a good thing. So you can calmly accept that there are situations that will stress you. Only a few people seem to be resistant to stress. 

It is only important that you are not constantly tensed up and know how to handle stress. We hope our tips for reducing stress will help you.