Page 285 - Keys To Community College Success

KEY 10.1 Stress levels can help or hinder performance.

Good Stress Distress

The Hump

Fatigue

Exhaustion
Comfort Wellness and Stress Management
zone
Performance Health Ill health

tension

Break down

Arousal Stress

Source: The American Institute of Stress, “Stress, Definition of Stress, Stressor, What Is Stress? Eustress?” from The American Institute of Stress website, accessed on
December 26, 2006 at www.stress.org/topic-definition-stress.htmn, 2006.

Although you cannot always control what happens to you, you can control your
response. Being as physically and mentally healthy as possible is crucial to respond-
ing productively to stress. In fact, you are on your way to becoming more healthy by
simply being in school. Scientists and researchers who study aging report that more
education is linked to a longer life, perhaps because education teaches cause-and- DELAY GRATIFICATION
effect thinking that helps people make better choices. Another link could be that edu- Putting aside an
cated people tend to be more able to delay gratification, which helps you to avoid immediate pleasure or
harmful habits. 1 reward to gain a
No one is able to make healthy choices and delay gratification all the time. How- substantial one later.
ever, you can pledge to do your best to maintain your health. As you consider the range
of choices, think through what risks you are willing to take to earn the reward of a
healthy body and mind. Think also about stress-management techniques that may
relate to different intelligences (see the Multiple Intelligence Strategies for Stress Man-
agement on page 248 for ideas).

Eat Well

Making intelligent choices about what you eat can lead to more energy, better general
health, and an improved quality of life. However, this is easier said than done. One
reason is that the food environment in which most Americans live is characterized by
an overabundance of unhealthy food choices, and the cheapest choices are usually not
the best. College students often live on limited budgets, so such an environment does
not support their efforts to choose well. 2
Day-to-day college life is also an issue. Students spend hours sitting and tend to eat
on the run, build social events around food, and eat as a reaction to stress. Even though
recent research has shown that students average less weight gain than the “freshman
15,” they still tend to put on weight, and may experience low energy and health issues
related to food choices. 3

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