       Classes, homework, essays, organizations, meetings, events, friends, hanging out, eating, sleeping, and so much more bear down on you every day of the week. One essential thing about college is making time for your schedule, as everything you do is up to whether or not you can fit something into your busy life. And while it can be tempting to try and get involved with a lot of the great groups and organizations on campus, you must remember to make time for yourself and not become overloaded. Even taking the normal workload for classes can become stressful at times, if you don’t properly space your work apart or balance it out. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, perhaps even more so!
            We’ve just started the semester, but you’ll notice that things will start ramping up rather quickly. That isn’t something to be afraid of, per se, but you do need to be aware of the dangers of letting your work pile up or assuming things will stay at this level of difficulty for long. Because towards the middle and end of the semester, you’ll be looking back at the first weeks of class with longing as you tangle with midterms and research essays. Again, don’t be intimidated by this seemingly bleak future, but simply mentally assert that things are going to get a lot more busy in the coming months.
           Part of the insidiousness of college stress is not merely the class work, but balancing your social life, your organizations and groups, and yourself as well. If you start to get overwhelmed in one aspect, you run the risk of falling behind in others. And if you let yourself get that far, things can fall apart rather quickly. So how do you avoid mental collapse and stay on top of it all?
           First of all, know your limits! Really stop and think about what level of work and time you can handle before losing it. Understand that on top of what classes you have to take and the work involved for them, you also must pile on any clubs you are in, the friends you have, and your own personal needs. If you take 18 hours of classes, have a pretty social lifestyle, and are in a ton of clubs, expect some stress! By all means, pursue your interests and explore the college life, but keep in mind your mental health!
           Secondly, keep a schedule or at least stay on top of what you need to do. When you look over your syllabi and see all the work to come, don’t panic! Yes, there will be times where you will have a lot of work, but you can prepare! Get your smaller assignments out of the way so you can focus on the larger ones. Give yourself time to tackle the essays or big assignments. College is a very one-day-at-a-time ordeal, so focus on accomplishing what you can every day!
           Finally, if you ever do feel overwhelmed or close to losing it, there are people who can help! Your RA’s understand the stress you are going through and have received training on psychology and stress. Go talk to them if you need help; they will always be there to listen. And utilize CAPS! The Counseling and Psychological Services was established specifically to help students stressed out by classes, personal problems, or any other mental crisis. They are located behind MEP and their services are free, so use them if you ever need help! While college is fun, it can be incredibly stressful at times, so make sure to keep yourself sane!Â