Essential Skills for University

Students
 It’s all you!
 One of the biggest adjustments for new college students is the newfound
freedom.
 University students have an increase in personal responsibility and a lot less
external structure.
 There are no set study times, no required meal times, no one to tell them
when to sleep or get them up, an increase in their academic workload, a
greater need to multi-task and balance and a myriad of new social
opportunities and challenges.
TIME MANAGEMENT

 Prepare a weekly schedule that includes time in class, studying,

activities, work, meals, study and time with friends.
 Being a university student is like having a full-time job.
 Several hours of studying and preparation expected for each
class.
 Activity
STRESS MANAGEMENT

 Regular exercise, adequate rest, good nutrition, prayer and/or

meditation are all suggested ways of engaging in self-care that
reduces stress.
 Finding ways to increase coping resources will help students
decrease the stressors that life will throw your way.
What is Stress?

 Stress is the wear and tear our bodies experience as we adjust to

our changing environment.
 In life, we cannot avoid all stress, so our goal is not to eliminate
stress but learn how to manage it.
 Ideally, you will fnd your optimal level of stress that will motivate
you instead of overwhelming you.
 You may notice as you go through life that some causes of stress
are in your control, but many are not; some stress is inevitable
and even good events cause us stress; and all change is
stressful, we cannot totally avoid stress in our lives.
 There are many diferent sources of stress including but not limited to:

 Life changes and times of great change

 Fear of the unknown
 Pressure to succeed
 Self-doubt
 Uncomfortable situations
 Moving house
What are the Signs of
Stress? ( PHYSICAL)
 Headaches
 Hot fashes
 The chills
 Skin fushing
 Nausea
 Loss of appetite
 Muscular tightness
 Light headedness
 Tics or twitches
What are the Signs of
Stress? ( EMOTIONAL)
 Sadness
 Frustration
 Anxiety
 Increased irritability
 Poor focus and motivation
 Avoiding academic tasks
 Feelings of failure
 Isolation
Manage academic stress
 Stress tolerance is the ability to be relaxed and composed while facing
challenges or difculties.
 By increasing your positive stress tolerance, you will be able to calmly face
obstacles without getting carried away by strong emotions of helplessness or
hopelessness.

 Engage your self-awareness and look for any physical or mental indications
that your stress level may be rising.

 If the source of your stress is related to events in your personal life, we

recommend connecting to professional support, such as a doctor or
counsellor in Campus Wellness.
How Do You Cope With Stress?
 If your difculty lies in part with a physical reaction to stressful situations, you
can address this with physical means.
 Deep breathing, stretching, yoga, guided imagery, and meditation are some
ways to trigger the relaxation response.
Other physical strategies include:
 Healthy sleep patterns – Try to maintain at least seven hours of sleep a
night, and sleep at the same time every day if possible.
 Nutrition – Try to eat three healthy meals a day.
 Exercise – Even low impact exercise like walking around campus or taking
the stairs instead of the elevator can make a big diference.
Cognitive strategies are more
focused on the emotional and
spiritual signs of stress.
 Try doing ones of these cognitive strategies the next time you fnd
stress symptoms starting up:
 Gratitude journaling: Every evening, as part of your bedtime
routine, write down fve things you are grateful for about that day.
Some days they will be amazing things, sometimes simple joys, such
as a walk in the sunshine or a friend’s smile. On tough days, focus on
the basics (Ex. food on the table, I got out of bed, etc.)
 Time management and study strategies.
 Spend time regularly with people doing activities that are engaging
and relaxing.
 Encourage positive self-talk and beliefs within yourself.
STUDY SKILLS

 Even some of the best high school students have not always
developed good study skills.
 Knowing how to read a text book, take notes in class, use the
library and take multiple choice tests are all areas that will help
you be more successful in the classroom.
ASSERTIVENESS SKILLS

 Speak up for yourself in an assertive manner that is not

aggressive or passively allowing others to take advantage of you.
 Assertiveness skills are helpful in roommate communication,
study groups, teams and confict resolution.
 They also involve learning and practicing healthy boundaries.
SEEKING ASSISTANCE WHEN
NEEDED
 A big part of advocating for yourself is knowing when to ask for
help.
 The university years are a time for learning new information,
new life skills and a new way of relating with our world.
 Seeking help when you need it is a sign of strength and integrity,
not an admission of failure.
 10 Life Skills Every university
Student Needs to Know
 Keep a Clean Space
 Cleaning may not be the most exciting task, but it's essential to adult life. Get ready to
master the basics:
• Launder clothes (sadly, buying new underwear once a month doesn’t count).
• Wash your sheets.
• Scrub a bathroom.
• Clean a kitchen.
• Tidy up your bedroom.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as countertops and door handles, once a
day.
Cook for Yourself
 Let’s tackle your next opponent: Cooking. Try to master
everything that goes into a meal:
• Grocery shopping.
• Meal prep. If you have a busy schedule, cook dinner Sunday night
and freeze leftovers for the rest of the week.
• Master a few go-to recipes.

This is also a good opportunity to learn more about
healthy eating habits for university students.
Manage Your Time

 Time management: It may seem like a teeny Tynamo, but this opponent is
much bigger than it looks. And conquering time management is essential
if you want to successfully juggle life skills. Try this:
• Use a Google Calendar to track both academic assignments and life tasks
(like changing your sheets).
• “Eat the Frog First.” This phrase is the weirder twin of the “two-minute
rule.” It means to start harder tasks frst so you’re less likely to
procrastinate.
• Avoid multitasking. Instead, focus on one thing at a time for greater
productivity.
• Silence your phone when you need to concentrate.
Make Healthy Friendships

 Your frst obstacle: Understand how to forge positive

relationships. Because this can take time to master, you may
want to power-up with this tool kit:
• Ideal way to meet someone: Do what you love.
• Ideal conversation starter: “What keeps you busy?”
• Ideal number of friends: There is none. Choose
quality over quantity, and invest in people who have a positive
impact on your life.
Know How to Stay Safe

 Staying safe goes beyond packing pepper spray. It also means

trusting your intuition and preparing for potentially dangerous
situations in advance.
• Drink responsibly. Understand the risks of binge-drinking and
how to prevent it. Remember that drinking alcohol can lower your
immune system, making it more likely you’ll contract COVID-19
and other infectious diseases. Never drive tipsy. Download a
rideshare app like Uber before you leave for your place of
residence and budget for it, just in case.
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