At St. Ambrose, success goes beyond grades. Here, your confidence is built from the inside out, surrounded by a host of support services: Student Success Center, Academic and Career Planning Center, Accessibility Resource Center, Student Health Services, and Counseling Center.
Through the Counseling Center, SAU students have access to supportive and confidential mental health resources, including educational workshops. Academic stress is a common topic. Whether it's the stress of exams, class load, or the transition to college, St. Ambrose’s mental health professionals have tips to help you identify and handle academic stressors.
Attend academic stress workshops
St. Ambrose provides resources to help students manage academic stressors. Being overly stressed can affect learning, studying, and mood. The St. Ambrose Counseling Center offers both online and in-person workshops that help students understand stress triggers and develop new coping skills.
Identify common stressors
According to the Counseling Center, procrastination and perfectionism are the two most common stressors for students. Procrastination occurs when students delay tasks, often because they feel overwhelmed and anxious about starting. Perfectionism can cause students to fear failure, which can lead to overworking or avoiding assignments altogether. The Counseling Center provides resources to help students overcome these stressors and make schoolwork a little less daunting.
Notice signs of stress
It’s important to recognize that stress is a normal part of college life and pay attention to how it shows up for you. When stress begins to build, take a break from studying and relax the brain with a fun activity. Here are some recommendations from the Counseling Center if you're feeling stuck:
- Paced breathing
- Muscle relaxation
- Five senses meditation
- Christian prayers
- Short yoga break
- 18-minute dance workout
Address overwhelming feelings
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, the Counseling Center recommends taking technology breaks. This can be as simple as putting devices away for 10-15 minutes, then practice identifying and naming what specifically feels overwhelming, so you can address it more effectively.
Avoid cramming
Instead of cramming for a test, study over multiple days and get enough sleep, since the brain can retain more information after rest. Practice self-compassion and focus on what you can accomplish in the present moment. In addition to mental health, be mindful of physical health as well. Fuel your body with food and water, as dehydration can lead to impaired cognition, decreased attention, memory, and problem-solving. Prioritize being organized. The Student Success Center can help with time management, studying, and organization tips.
At St. Ambrose, we value supportive learning environments and take pride in understanding mental health struggles. The Counseling Center is here to help students with individual counseling, virtual lessons, and workshops. Everyone experiences stress throughout their college career—St. Ambrose is here to help.
