Stress stress and more stress!

salsabeelahk
Oct 5, 2020
2 min read

It is no secret that as a university student you'll face all kinds of stress! This particular blogpost will focus on academic stress, how it can actually affect your brain and what you can do to manage your stress levels.

How exactly does stress affect your brain?

Firstly, when you're stressed out, your brain releases a hormone called Cortisol. Well actually, did you know that Cortisol in moderate levels is of benefit to you? That is because it helps you take necessary action to face that situation.

However, what happens when you're constantly stressed out about your assignment due dates and quizzes?

Well, your hippocampus - the part of your brain that is responsible for learning, memory, and stress control deteriorates.

Have you ever felt like your brain was shrinking in size when you were going through your study and exam weeks?

That was probably true! As a result, your judgement, concentration, decision-making and social interaction were impaired. Furthermore, during this time, fewer new brain cells are generated. Thus, making it harder to learn and remember new things. Even setting the benchmark for an arrival of a depressive episode. I know during my study and exam weeks, I pretty much resemble an empty rusted tin can - depressed and worn out.

But hey, its not all that bad because there are ways to manage your stress level:

How to manage your stress level?

Exercise : Ah yes, you couldn't have guessed it! We all know exercise has an immense amount of benefit to us. When we exercise, our brain releases a chemical called Endorphins that act as natural pain killers and in turn help to reduce stress.

Meditation : Very similar to exercise, when we meditate or even practice deep breathing, our brain releases Endorphins.

Get Organized: Sometimes, just the simple act of staying organized can help reduce stress. That simply means, listing out the due dates of your assignments, quizzes, Mid-terms and exams on your preferred planner.

I personally like to use this application that helps me stay organized and can also be used on web browser as well as a mobile phone: My Study Life

Time Management: As a student, you're going to hear this word be tossed around very frequently. It is really crucial to know the time frame when you're the most focused so that the more difficult tasks get done and vice-versa.