Stress Management Tips for Students: How to Stay Calm and Focused During University Applications

Admissions season is, by far, one of the most stressful times to be a student. Studying for your final exams is tough enough without the added weight of trying to jumpstart the next chapter of your life in an unfamiliar environment. Amidst the frenzy of this period, it’s still crucial that you put yourself first. After all, you can’t do your best if you’re burning the candle at both ends!

With that in mind, we’ve gathered some helpful stress management tips to support you during the university application process! Remember, applying to universities is a marathon, not a sprint. We’ll explore everything from staying healthy to practical techniques for a smooth journey. We’ll show you how to practise and incorporate these tips into your daily routine.

Understanding Stress

Before we dive into the techniques for handling stress, we first need to understand what stress is and be able to recognise it in ourselves. Stress, to put it simply, is the tension or pressure typically experienced under difficult circumstances. 

In high-pressure situations, we often ignore our body’s signals in an effort to push ourselves to perform and stay ahead. However, when it comes to stress, this approach is not advisable, as stress frequently presents itself through physical warning signs. Recognising these symptoms early is crucial, as prolonged exposure to stress can strain your body and weaken your immune system over time.

Here are some common physical and physiological symptoms of stress: 

• Fatigue and/or sleep problems
• Memory problems
• Headaches
• Being irritable or easily upset/angered
• Chest tightness or pain, also associated with anxiety 
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Muscle tension 
• Stomach problems or loss of appetite

If you find yourself displaying any of these signs, it might be time to practise stress management! Remember, these techniques do not replace medical attention, as stress manifests differently for everyone. If you feel that any of these symptoms are debilitating your daily life, it’s best to seek advice from a medical professional.

So, how do we manage stress? 

Effective Time Management 

While this may seem like a no-brainer, prevention is better than cure. To manage stress in the run-up to the university application deadline, you can create an application timeline, which is one of the most effective strategies for success.. Though this may initially seem overwhelming, having all of your key dates and milestones laid out from the get-go will help you pace and prepare yourself for the road ahead. As is often said, foresight is better than hindsight! 

To help you out here, Crimson Education has already assembled application checklists and timelines for students interested in UK and US universities! For instance, you can find our checklist for applying to US universities, or a detailed presentation of all key dates for the UK application process here. The admissions calendar created for students in Singapore keen on the 2024/2025 application cycle is also free to use so you can keep yourself on track! 

Laying out a timeline will also help you with eventually breaking these tasks down into manageable, bite-sized chunks. For instance, you could break down a foreboding entry, like ‘Write personal essay’, into the much more achievable ‘Write 100 words of personal essay’.

With the luxury of time on your side, you have the agency to divide these bigger tasks up over several days, eliminating the need for panicked all-nighter cram sessions. This also grants you the freedom to multitask and work on several different things at once!

Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques

Alongside managing the practicalities of your university application process, it’s also essential for you to engage in self-care. Despite the time it takes, these techniques are not a waste of time and you shouldn’t have to feel guilty for not spending every second of your time being productive! Self-care is a way to ground yourself. Eventually, it makes you capable of showing up as the best version of yourself to tackle what needs to be done.

In brief, mindfulness is a type of meditation which focuses your awareness on the moment you’re currently in. Whether physically or emotionally, mindfulness encourages you to approach your situation without judgement. This also allows you to slow your thoughts down, and take a breather from all of the to-do lists you’ve no doubt been hard at work at! Additionally, engaging in mindfulness may also help you improve your attention habits and sleep in the long term, as it lets you give your brain a break from all the heavy lifting it’s been doing.

There are different ways to practise mindfulness, with no singular correct or optimal answer. Mostly, it’s up to you to figure out which of these best suits you and your situation! Here are some ideas of simple practices you can implement in your daily life:

• Breathing exercises: While this can be as simple as merely noticing your breath and how the air feels going through your nose, there are also targeted breathing exercises available! A notable method for reducing stress is the 4-7-8 breathing method, which is as simple as it sounds. All you have to do is inhale to a 4-count, hold your breath for a 7-count, and exhale to an 8-count.
• Body scan meditation: Lie on your back with your legs fully extended and arms to the side, with the palms facing upward. Close your eyes and take deep breaths as you focus your attention on how each part of your body feels. You can go head to toe, or toe to head. The goal is to be aware of how each part of your body feels, which can be particularly useful as stress tends to heighten pain and tension in areas we might not notice immediately!

If you have a little more time on your hands, here are some full-bodied methods you can try out!

• Yoga: Much like the mindfulness techniques highlighted above, yoga involves an awareness of your breathing, as well as the feelings and sensations within your body. Yoga is particularly effective if you’re feeling your stress manifest in muscular tension or discomfort, especially with sitting at a desk all day. You don’t have to be an expert to practise yoga! In fact, there are lots of free guided videos from certified instructors available online, so you’re welcome to pick whichever is best suited for you.
• Walking: When you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, it can be most helpful to move your body and break that state. One of the simplest ways to do this is to go on a walk— not only will you get the endorphins from having exercised, but it’s a great opportunity to get some fresh air and clear your mind. Additionally, recent research has shown that walking helps with neuroplasticity, brain function, and circulation. All of these will then only help your ability to retain information and handle stress!
• Exercise/other high-intensity workouts: Depending on your capacity, you might be in the mood to do something more fun and fast-paced. Exercise is another form of mindfulness, as it draws your focus entirely to your body and its movement. You can do this as a solo activity, or use it as an opportunity to get involved with a community, such as through a run club. Furthermore, it releases endorphins in the aftermath, which are a great mood booster and can make you feel more capable of tackling the challenges ahead of you.

Setting Realistic Goals

When it comes to any kind of long-term endeavour, whether it’s university applications or an exercise routine, it’s important to set realistic goals. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so you shouldn’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself to achieve everything within a short period of time! In fact, unrealistic and perfectionistic goals may only set you up for failure and compound your disappointment in yourself. 

Instead, you can use the simple SMART method to keep your goals streamlined and realistic. When paired with your application timeline, this method will help you evenly pace yourself so you don’t burn out before hitting the finish line! 

Here’s the method, in short: 

• S: Specific. Being specific about what it is you want to achieve can help you better visualise your goal and the steps you’d like to take towards it. An easy way to approach this aspect is through the 5 W’s and 1 H: who, what, when, where, how, and why? 
• M: Measurable. The ability to track your progress on a goal is also crucial, not only for keeping your own morale up, but for assessing that you’re moving in the right direction!
• A: Attainable. Given the number of things you’ll likely have to do, make sure you’re setting a goal that can actually be achieved with the resources and skills you have! 
• R: Relevant. These goals should be relevant to your main focus— in this case, your education, but you’re welcome to be specific about a certain subject or skill!
• T: Time-bound. Another important way to keep yourself accountable and on track with your goals is to set a deadline for completion, though this should be a realistic timeframe! 

When it comes to setting goals, it’s also important to give yourself some grace. If you find yourself needing to change your goal, don’t be too hard on yourself about it. Improvement, not perfection, is what’s crucial for success. Overall, what matters is that you keep moving forward towards your goal, no matter the pace!

Maintaining a Support System 

As you work rigorously towards achieving your goals, it’s also good to remind yourself that you aren’t in this alone! Asking for help when you need it is just as valuable a skill as self-reliance, and you’ll only be better for it. Furthermore, it’s very likely that the adults in your life — whether they be your family members, teachers, or mentors — want to see you succeed, and are more than willing to help you get there! This can be as simple as having a chat with a teacher after class, especially if you’re feeling stressed or lost on some material.

Studying can also be quite a solitary activity. Depending on your style and preference, this may work fine! However, months of slogging away alone isn’t necessarily the best strategy for your mental health, especially if you’re already feeling stressed. Instead, you may want to consider joining a study group with your peers who are probably feeling the same way! This is a great way to ensure you’re staying on track with your goals and learning continuously, while absorbing positive energy and socialising.

Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices

As the deadlines creep closer and closer, you may find yourself tempted to sacrifice sleep or your nutritional needs in the name of getting ahead. While ordering a delivery meal or two won’t do you any harm, subsisting entirely on piecemeal nourishment isn’t ideal for keeping yourself in check for the challenges ahead. 

A stressful period of time can be an opportunity to take your nutrition, sleep, and other markers of physical health even more seriously. Here are some methods you can consider implementing in your own life: 

• Snack on frozen fruit. If you’re a stress eater who finds themselves constantly craving sugar, a great replacement for candy or processed snacks is frozen fruit! All you have to do is stick your fruit of choice — a container of grapes, or a cubed peach — into the freezer for a couple of hours. Furthermore, it’s a great way to beat the heat or the post-lunch crash. 
• Colour Your Plate: Make mealtime a fun game by aiming to create a colourful plate! Challenge yourself to include at least three different colours of fruits and vegetables in every meal. Not only does it make your plate more visually appealing, but it also ensures you’re getting a variety of nutrients. Snap a picture of your vibrant creations and share them with friends for extra motivation!
• Practise good sleep hygiene. Being stressed, you may find yourself stuck in a freeze response of scrolling through social media on your phone until you fall asleep. Unfortunately, this isn’t the best for ensuring you get the best quality sleep, which you’ll definitely need! Changing this habit is as simple as setting up a nighttime routine, which you can use to coax your brain off its stimulated state. Some activities you might want to try to do might include swapping your scrolling for 30 minutes of reading before bed, or playing some soothing music. Alternatively, this is a great opportunity to try doing some of the yoga or breathing exercises we suggested earlier!
• Get some exercise. As highlighted earlier, moving your body is a great way for your brain to release endorphins and boost your mood! It also gives you a break from all of the hard work you’ve been doing, and can be quite refreshing. 
• Develop a hobby. Much like the logic of exercise, starting a hobby is a great way to pull yourself away from your desk and give your brain a break. Additionally, studies have shown that people who participate in hobbies also show decreased levels of the stress hormone after the session. Some hobbies you can consider might include photography, drawing, dance, or cooking. The great thing about a hobby is that you don’t need to be excellent at it —you can just enjoy it!

Utilise Crimson Education’s Resources

Lastly, a crucial tip in managing your stress is to realise the wealth of resources crafted to help you through your journey. Navigating the university application process is no easy feat, which is why services like those offered by Crimson Education exist! As we’ve emphasised in this blog, you’re not in this alone. Help is always available, you need only reach for it!

With deadlines just a few months away, we understand you might feel lost or anxious about the process. But don’t worry—we’re here to help! Crimson offers comprehensive university admission consulting services to guide you through every step of the application process, from selecting your university choices to crafting your personal statement. It all begins with a free consultation with our Academic Advisor. Every student is unique and responds to stress differently, so we recognise that there’s no “one size fits all” approach. We’ll design a personalised programme that plays to your strengths, enhancing your chances of making your higher education dreams a reality!

Alternatively, you’re welcome to peruse some of our ebooks for specific application and admissions advice, or attend one of our many webinars with experts from the field who can provide you with reliable insights on a plethora of topics related to university admissions!

We hope you’ve found this blog helpful for managing your stress! At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that this period of time will pass, and that your worth is not dictated solely by your academic performance. Instead, building resilience and showing up for yourself is what counts, and we hope to provide you with the resources to make that happen!