Stress and Success – Senior to Graduate

Published on March 2, 2022

As a college student, stress can sometimes get the best of us, especially as seniors! This article will dive into the ways you can be successful, even when you’re extremely stressed.

Identifying Stressors

There are three types of stress: 

  1. Acute Stress 
  1. Episodic Acute Stress 
  1. Chronic Acute Stress 

Acute Stress is the most common type and happens due to day-to-day life actions/stressors. It typically isn’t long-lived and doesn’t affect you in a negative or lasting way. Examples would be if you were running late to class or submitted a homework assignment past the due date.

Episodic Acute Stress is acute stress that repeatedly occurs over an extended period and can cause migraines or headaches. 

Chronic Acute Stress occurs when you feel stress about a long-term situation that is difficult to avoid. An example of this could be if you find it hard to keep up with your course work and are falling behind. In response to this form of stress, your body may gain weight, become sleep deprived, or you could develop lasting anxiety.

Ways to Combat Stress

Everyone works differently, so sometimes trial and error is the best method to figure out what might work best for you. Below is a list of tips to try and lower your stress levels.

  1. Take Care of Your Body: Get Enough Sleep, Eat Well, and Exercise Regularly
  2. Set Realistic Expectations
    • Organize your schedule realistically so that you will not be too overwhelmed! If you do take on too much, don’t be afraid to communicate this with your professor. They understand and may be able to offer you an extension or extra help. 
  3. Avoid Procrastinating
  4. Add If-Then and When/Where to Your To-Do List
    • According to an article published by the Harvard Business Review, in nearly 200 studies it was seen that if you decide in advance when and where you will complete a task it has the potential to double or triple your chances of the task being completed. An example would be “If it is 6pm, then I will complete my homework at my desk.” 
  5. Identify your Stress Outlets
    • Some common ideas include hanging out with family or friends, deep breathing techniques, exercise, listening to serene music, or visualizing calming scenes. Know yourself and find ones that fit you.
  6. Rely on Routines
    • Reducing the number of decisions you make each day helps create a clear routine so you can focus your energy on more important matters! Pick out your clothes the night before, meal-prep for the week, start your homework at the same time every day.
  7. Stop Negative Talk and Appreciate What You Have
    • Have self-compassion and try to reduce the amount of negativity in your life. Take a moment each day to appreciate what you have by journaling or sitting quietly and mindfully thinking to yourself. This form of appreciation can reduce your cortisol levels by 23%! 
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Post-Graduation Stress 

As a senior in college, graduation can be seen as bitter-sweet. The closer towards the end of the year we get, the higher the stress and anxiety levels may be. You may be thinking about where you will live, landing a job, passing your classes, and finding the motivation to finish strong. Read on to view some tips and pieces of advice regarding post-graduation stress management.  

  1. Moving in with family after graduation
    • You are not alone; this decision often helps the graduate to save money and provide a base to regain your footing. Just make sure to set boundaries with your family so that you all recognize your place as adults in the house. 
  1. Remember that your first job will NOT be your last job!
    • Graduation is the first step out into the real world. The very first job you choose is never set in stone. Some people change their positions, jobs, and company’s numerous times before they find something they love and stick with it. 
  1. Take the necessary steps to overcome senioritis!!
    • You’re at the end of your four years at college, the finish line seems so close you can almost touch it, but you still have a few more months to go! How do you manage to keep your motivation high?
      • Try setting short-term and long-term goals for yourself.
      • As mentioned before, set a routine schedule and stick to it.
      • Remember to schedule breaks between work, class, and studying.
      • Create a support system of friends and classmates to lean on when you don’t understand an assignment or need someone to go to the library with!
      • Make a game out of your homework tasks with a reward at the end for finishing everything.
      • Do one thing new every week.
      • Remember to check in at the Center for Career Development, sign up for events, and schedule meetings or critiques with employees here! There are so many resources available to you at the Career Center pre- and post-graduation, so be sure to take advantage of it! 

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By Madalynn Giglio
Madalynn Giglio
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