Page 80 - Keys to College Success

KEY 2.6 Stress levels can help or hinder performance.

Good Stress Distress
The Hump

Fatigue
Exhaustion
Comfort
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 Ameri-
can Institute of Stress website, accessed on December 26, 2006 at www.stress.org/topic-definition-stress.htmn, 2006.

respond strongly to cues in their environment—enticements around them, such as text
messages popping up, for example, or games available on their computers—have a
harder time delaying gratification. In addition, the human brain is still developing its
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impulse control until around age 25. All of this can add up to a challenge for many col-
lege students to manage their responsibilities.
How does delaying gratification help you manage stress? When self-control slips and
responsibilities pile up, so does stress, making it harder to get back on track. However, when
you are able to take the risk of delaying gratification, keeping your focus on the rewards
down the line, you are far more likely to perform your academic and life tasks on time. This Goals, Time, and Stress Management
reduces stress in two ways: One, it makes it less likely that you will fall behind in your
responsibilities, and two, it builds your confidence, which helps to calm the stress reaction.
No one is able to sacrifice the immediacy of “fun” rewards all the time. Sometimes
you will forego the library and join your friends for some social time. However, you
can commit to do your best to balance work and play. If you are able to maintain the
right amount of each in your life, you will be likely to hit that “sweet spot” where you
have just enough stress to perform well, but not so much that you shut down.

Go to Class and Use Your Syllabus
If the average college student analyzed what percentage of stress came from unavoid-
able sources (higher levels of coursework, increased responsibility) and what percentage
was created by the student (missing classes, not consulting a planner regularly, not using
syllabi to schedule tasks), the latter percentage would likely be too high. Be honest with
yourself: When you are overwhelmed with responsibilities, how much of that is a result
of choices you’ve made?
College is challenging enough. Don’t make it worse by blowing off classes and filing
your syllabi out of sight. Your energy is much better spent moving ahead on the road
toward your goals rather than crawling out of a ditch that you yourself dug and fell into.
The strategies are simple: One, go to class as consistently as you can. Two, refer to
your syllabi regularly—whether the syllabi themselves or the syllabi due dates that
you’ve put into your planner—to make sure you are on top of what’s required of you.
If you can do these two things you will save yourself an enormous amount of stress,
and you will still find time for activities and relaxation outside of class.

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