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Choosing a college is a huge milestone in one’s life and therefore—it can be rather stressful. According to Medical Daily, a lot of high school graduates experience symptoms of the burn-out syndrome and they find it extremely hard to stay calm due to a lot of pressure they feel. If you too are a freshman-to-be, you can try useful relaxing techniques during this exciting and hectic transition to college. From putting things into perspective and acknowledging the importance of self-care to learning how to recognize and communicate your emotions—you can gain better control of yourself and reduce stress in no time.
Replace Fear With Curiosity
It’s natural to feel fear when you transition to college. It pushes you out of your comfort zone into an unknown land. However, the important thing is to think about college as a period in life when a person truly discovers themselves. These are the most formative years and the unpredictability of what’s to come should be inspiring, not frightening. Accepting you cannot control everything is liberating and can lead to wonderful things. Try auditing a college course while you’re still in high school. Every university has some lectures open to the public. Ask around and see if there is a college student who’s willing to sit for a cup of coffee with you and share their experience. It will help you to make a decision easier.
Put Things Into Perspective
When making that transition to college, people tend to feel overwhelmed. They think they’ve reached a point of no return and that they are making the most important decision in their lives. It helps if you realize that, while choosing future education is important—your decision is not set in stone. Many discover their true interests later or their chosen career path changes. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 80% of the U.S. students switch majors. In any case, after graduation—you will have to combine your formal education or real-world training in order to get the desired job. With time, you’ll find it’s enjoyable to attend workshops and training seminars and this will make you a representative candidate on the job market later on.
Find Ways to Vent Out
Stress can truly take a toll on you. It’s always a good idea to communicate what you’re going through with someone who has more experience than you or someone who can relate. The moment you say things aloud, they become more concrete and so the problem is much easier to solve. In addition, it’s always a good idea to commit to some sort of physical activity. As Harvard Health reports, stressing your body out is very beneficial for achieving hormone balance and reducing anxiety. Yoga and breathing exercises are also advisable. In addition, you should not neglect your self-care. This includes proper dieting, optimal 8-hours of sleep, and activities you enjoy (e.g. reading, walking, etc.).
When you finally get into your desired school and go through the first semester, you’ll be wondering why were you so stressed in the first place. The fact is, when you’re in the middle of the situation—you cannot see things clearly and they seem much worse than they truly are.
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