School places a great deal of stress on students. But just like any stress, there are coping strategies that you can employ to manage your pressures. It is important to take control of your pressures so that they don't take control of you in the form of burnout, depression, or a nervous breakdown. We have come up with 4 ways that you can cope with stress. You may employ one method or a combination of one or more of the methods. If you manage these coping skills correctly, they may not only get you through school, but they may also get you through life too.

1. Keep a journal or diary. Getting stress out of your system is a positive way to cope with pressure. If you keep it bottled up inside of you, it is bound to come out eventually in a way that is probably not going to be positive. Many students use their journal or diary as an outlet for their emotions. Once they get it all out on paper, they start to feel better.

2. Time management and setting priorities. By setting a schedule for yourself, you are setting up a guideline for you to follow. Don't add further pressure to yourself by rigidly trying to stick minute by minute to your schedule. Set your schedule with priorities, reorganizing your time so that you will stick to what is important. The following are some suggestions for making valuable use of your time to get control of your stress:

? Make private moments to do something nice for yourself.
? Get an adequate amount of sleep.
? Work hard, but play harder. Make time for leisure activities that you enjoy.
? Exercise regularly, even if it is just a brisk walk around the block or on the treadmill.
? Eat healthy and well-balanced meals.

3. Cultivate relationships. As a human being you have a need to interact with other human beings. Friends, significant others, family members, and fellow students create a social balance to the work side of your life as a student. Spend time with people you love and who love you. Spend time with people that you enjoy being with. It helps to relieve stress and let you have a little fun now and then.

4. Seek professional help. Everyone needs a little help sometimes and if you cannot seem to get in control of your stress and coping skills, then seek professional help. There are on-campus professionals that can help you or you can seek help from a professional that is not associated with the school.