Missouri State University

Skip to content Skip to navigation
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Family Connection

The Stress of College Life – Encouraging your Student to be Healthy

September 2, 2014 by Priscilla Childress

Stress — it should be a four letter word. We all have it, hate it, and deal with it. It’s the reason we devour pounds of chocolate. Through the years we have learned ways of handling stress that work best for us.  0306.jpg.JPG.JPG

College students are a bit different though. They have been shielded somewhat from the stress of what we will call “real life.” As they grew up, yes, they knew some stress: the stress to trying to make good grades, succeed at extracurricular activities, and fit in with different groups of people. However, we as parents handled that stress. When they were stressing over being tired, we would make them go to bed. When they stressed over filling out college applications, we helped them. When they were stressed because they were not feeling well, we kept them out of school and nursed them back to health. That was our job as parents.

But that job has changed. We’ve gone from caretaker to coach. College student’s deal with the stress of meeting with new friends, demanding classes, living on their own, financial issues, campus jobs, changing values, research papers and much more. We aren’t with them every day and we don’t have the ability to immediately de-stress them. How can we help them?

First and foremost, let your student know you are there for her. You’re a good listener. You don’t mind talking through issues. Keep in mind there will be times when your student will call you and tell you that life is awful, she hates her school, her friends, etc. She is down in the dumps. After you hang up, you continue to worry and wonder if you should be calling someone. She, on the other hand, had a friend knock on the door. She’s gone out to dinner and forgotten what she was upset about. She is okay.

Here are steps you can take to help your college student find her way through the stress.

  • Suggest your student select healthier foods and never skip breakfast. Breakfast can improve energy levels, help maintain focus in the classroom and increase the overall quality of a student’s diet. Students should choose leaner protein options, make half their grains whole grains and consume plenty of fruits and vegetables. The MSU Dining Centers have some great choices for our students. Suggest your student visit the Dining Services website to find out more information.
  • Remind your student to stay physically active. Missouri State has a state-of-the-art campus recreation center. The Foster Family Recreation Center offers numerous ways students can be physically active at all hours of the day. Encourage your student to take a tour of the fitness center, try a BearFit class or take advantage of adventure trips. Physical activity is a great way to manage stress and meet new people. Refer your student to the Campus Recreation website to see a full listing of activities.
  • Encourage your student to recharge with sleep. It is recommended that students get 7-9 hours of sleep a day. Sleep is crucial for optimum performance inside and outside of the classroom.
  • Remind your student to take advantage of the Taylor Health & Wellness Center. At Taylor Health & Wellness Center, your student can learn take care of her whole self. Share the Taylor Health & Wellness website with your student.
  • Address signs of stress early. Forgetfulness, moodiness and fatigue can all be early signs of stress.  Our students need to make stress management a part of their everyday college life to avoid the side effects.
  • Express confidence in your student’s abilities.
  • Remind your student of a time she managed a stressful situation with a positive outcome.
  • Create a care plan. If emotional concerns of mood, anxiety or substance use have been a part of your student’s past, ensure you have a plan for how these emotional care needs will be met.  The Counseling Center can help you navigate the best treatment options.

Let your student know you understand that and you will always love and support her. That, for college students, is so very important to know.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: BearFit class, breakfast, counseling center, extracurricular, fatigue, healthy, Physical activity, recreation, sleep, stress, taylor health & wellness

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • A Chat with Chase – The Start of a New Semester
  • How to Encourage Your Student to Stay Fit and On Track during the Holidays
  • A Chat with Chase – Setting Yourself up for a Successful Semester
  • Spotlight on Khloee Lathrum – SOAR Leadership Assistant
  • Encourage your student to become a SOAR Leader!

Categories

  • 2020
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • academics
  • baseball
  • Bear Claw
  • Bear POWER
  • Bears LEAD
  • career center
  • college life
  • community service
  • Consider this…
  • counseling center
  • COVID-19
  • Dining
  • disability resource center
  • Family Events
  • family weekend
  • financial aid
  • first generation student
  • Fraternity and Sorority life
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing and Dining Services
  • Immersion Programs
  • involvement
  • leadership
  • LGBTQ
  • move-in
  • Multicultural Programs
  • Plaster Student Union
  • Public Affairs
  • Residence Life
  • Safety and Transportation
  • SGA
  • SOAR
  • Spring Family Day
  • Student Affairs
  • Student Conduct
  • student employment
  • study away
  • Sustainability
  • Tradition of the Month
  • Uncategorized
  • Ursa Experience

Tags

academic advisor academics ask Priscilla athletics baseball Bear Claw Bill and Lucille Magers Family Health and Wellness Center career center communication counseling center COVID-19 Dean of Students FAFSA family weekend financial aid first generation student football Foster Rec Center Fraternity & Sorority Life Housing internships involvement leadership Meyer Library Missouri State Bookstore Office of Student Engagement Plaster Student Union professors Public Affairs Mission Residence Life scholarship. financial aid sleep SOAR Soar Leader stress student Student Activities Council Student Affairs student employment Student Government Association study away taylor health & wellness Traditions Council Ursa Experience - Maroon & White Overnight welcome weekend

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Make your Missouri statementMake your Missouri statement
  • Last Modified: September 2, 2014
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosures
  • EO/AA/M/F/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
  • © 2013 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
  • Contact Information