How to Cope With Stress

Stress is a common problem among students. In Malaysia, it is stressful for the

students because the education system is exam-oriented and each student has to study
at least nine subjects for the Malaysia Education Certificate. Moreover, the schools
and parents expected them to get perfect score in all the subjects so that they can have
a better chance of entering Public University.

Despite of the pressure, students should not complaint about not having enough
time. Amalina, Siti Fatimah and Siti Madihah who had obtained perfect scores in their
SPM examination had proved that one must know how to manage one’s time well.
Students must visualise their goal and work towards achieving it.

Planning a time-table is one of the most effective ways of managing time. A

timetable helps a student to schedule their study time,doing sports,engaging in leisure
activities, sleeping hour and meal times. He must focus on completing a task given
within the time scheduled. He should not procrastinate.

As sports and leisure activities are also included in the timetable, students ought
to feel relax. After all, within 24 hours, they are not only studying and completing
tasks given by their teachers. In fact, they also have enough sleep and a set meal
times.

Besides, a well-plan timetable, a student needs a balanced meal. As he should

never miss a meal, he should also make sure that the food he takes is nutritious. A
meal must begin with fruit. Fruit provides vitamin C which helps to boost a student’s
immunity system against diseases. Fruit is also good at balancing emotion. Student
should not also miss carbohydrate, protein and minerals in their food intake .They
ensure a student to have enough energy and strength to go through a day.

Furthermore, many evidences have shown that students who work in a group
find studying less stressful. They are able to discuss the topic they do not understand
and get solution to problems faster than studying own their own. Amalina for example
had pointed to working in group as one of her success tips.

Nobody in this world is living a problem-free life. Students are not exempted. So
if they have problems, they should talk about their problems to people whom they can
trust. Parents are the best persons to talk to. Others whom they can seek advice from
are teachers and counsellors. A wise friend may help too. Talking to someone will
make the problem lighter and bearable.

Many people believe that listening to music helps to reduce stress but students
need to choose music which soothes to the ears. Since stressful people usually suffer
from headache, heavy rock music may only increase the stress.
Some religious people like the Buddhist and Hindu resort to meditation while
the Muslims perform their prayer and recite the Quran as way of reducing stress.
Students may do so according to their beliefs.

Stress is clearly manageable. A student must develop a positive approach towards life
and avoid being saddened by trivial matter.
Students experience great amounts of stress, whether teenagers or college age, in
the family or among their peers. Most adults have forgotten what it was like to
experience the stress placed on students, but students ride the roller coaster every
day.

Causes of stress on students

Causes of stress on students include both positive and negative stress, but we will
focus here on the negative causes of stress on students.

1. Academics
Alphabetically first among the causes of stress on students is academic pressure.
Simply tackling more difficult assignments can demand stress management
techniques. It might be wise for teachers to introduce students to this stress with an
assignment such as a “Causes of Stress on Students Essay”•. Requiring students
to interview older students and educators, as well as research the Internet on the
subject, could help them prepare for the stresses of academic challenges.

2. Dating
Student life throughout high school and college is filled with thinking about dating,
dating, trying to date, failing to date, and being “dumped”•. The mating game is
filled with eustress, but it also involves distress, and is among the greatest causes
of stress on students.

3. Environment
The school environment itself can be a cause of stress on students. Students
moving into secondary education find it challenging to constantly move around to
classes. Those matriculating to tertiary education are challenged with leaving
home and establishing a new life in a new setting. Both can cause stress on
students.

4. Extracurricular
Colleges pressure high school students to engage in extracurricular activities such
as choirs, clubs, sports, band, or volunteer work. The presence of these on a
student application can go far toward acceptance. Once in college, extracurricular
activities still cause stress on students, since their presence on a job application is
also an asset.

5. Peers
Like dating, peer relationships can provide eustress or distress. As peers apply
pressure in regard to dress, behavior, choice of friends or music, and many other
areas of life, that pressure can become a huge cause of stress on students.

6. Workload
High school workloads, and later college workloads, are heavy for many students.
For secondary students planning on tertiary studies, high school grades are
important. So is the number of subjects. As a result, students may overload their
schedules. In college, where a financial investment has been made, students may
overwork to reach their goals and benefit from the money spent. Workloads at
either level are causes of stress on students.

7. Time Management
A lack of time management also causes stress on students, whether secondary or
tertiary. Balancing academics, dating, peer activities, and home life can be
difficult. Toss in a part-time job, and the challenge increases.

8. Parental Pressure
Finally, students at either level experience stress from parental pressures. Parents
want their children to succeed in school. They want to see good grades, but they
also want to see success in life’s other areas. In their attempts to guide their
children, parents can become one of the major causes of stress on students.

It is wise for parents and others who work with students to take time to recognize
the stresses students face. If they then provide stress management techniques, they
will do much to relieve and encourage their students.