The Beaucoup section writes about ways they deal with academic stress and things that help them manage their busy routines.
Sadie Lynn Burrell
Illustrator
As someone who gets anxious easily, managing academic stress is very important so I can continue to function effectively as a student.
One way I manage stress is by compartmentalizing my thoughts to focus on one thing at a time. For example, when I am worried about school as well as other things in my life, I push the other thoughts to the side and focus on the things I have to work on for class.
The most important thing I try to do is to pace myself. I work on the most pressing things first and then go back for things with a later due date. In between doing this, though, I take frequent breaks where I watch a video, doodle or get a snack.
Knowing I have a break to look forward to makes me more motivated to get work done and reaching it feels like a reward.
Ellie Schmidt
Layout Manager
I manage stress by using a lot of to-do lists to stay organized and focused. When I feel overwhelmed, I sit down and write everything out that I need to accomplish, breaking each task into smaller, manageable steps. This makes big projects less intimidating and allows me to work through them with less stress. Self-care is also very essential for me. Taking time to myself to relax helps me calm down when I’m overwhelmed.
Moving to Lafayette from Shreveport was very hard for me. At first, I felt lonely and overwhelmed by the new environment, but surrounding myself with supportive friends has made a huge difference. They’ve helped me feel at home here, and having a strong social circle has improved my mental well-being.
Another big part of managing my stress is my kitten, who provides a lot of comfort and joy. Taking care of her keeps me grounded and helps me recharge when I’m feeling mentally drained.
Geonna Tipton
News Writer
Managing academic stress can be difficult. It is like trying to sail a ship on dry land sometimes, and then trying to figure out how to make the water appear again. For me, handling stress in general was never easy. I would be stumped for a few days at a time and get nothing done. However, since I moved to college I have been able to handle it better. When I get stressed, I take a long shower to relax and then eat some of my favorite comfort foods.
Not only that, but sometimes I will take a walk around campus or watch some comfort shows to calm down and relax my mind.
One thing I’ve learned is that there is no right or wrong way to handle stress. It can vary from person to person. So when my boat begins to sail on dry land, I try to relax and ease my mind because I know the water will come back eventually.
Ramudhi Kariyawasam
Managing Editor
At this point in my life, stress comes as no stranger. It is not some peculiar or alien word that describes the disastrous and unexplained physiological damage it does to the human body. Rather to me, it is a word that describes every single day of any given moment of my existence. Stress.
With all due honesty, stress has been such a large component of my career, that I’ve grown numb to it. I know, it sounds horrible. It should never, ever come to be that way because that is the worst impact it can have on you. Recognizing that stress has become numb to me is also good though, because it allows me to take action when I know too well the world around me is spinning faster than I am.
To combat this physiological monster, I attempt my hardest to dedicate a few hours a week to my hobbies: playing guitar, taking a walk at the park, dominating pickleball. Although a few hours a week is definitely not enough, it is what I can manage at the time. That’s all that matters. Moving forward one step at a time.