College Life - How To Reduce Stress in College Life

Going to college usually means leaving close friends and family behind. This can be quite stressful for college students who haven’t developed a new support circle yet, and can lead to loneliness and a sense of feeling ‘lost’, both of which can be stressful. Here are some things to remember when off at college:

• Stay Connected To Home
  Whether you’re down the street or across the country, being away from home can be difficult at times. Don’t forget to use the phone, email and even video teleconferencing from your computer to stay in touch with family and friends at home. A quick chat with mom can go a long way!

• Branch Out At School
  Getting involved with groups and clubs at school can be an excellent remedy for college loneliness. Join an exercise class, talk to people you run into around campus, or taking advantage of the many social opportunities on your campus can put you in touch with people who may end up being lifelong friends. It can be difficult to put yourself out there, but having people to study with, exercise with, commiserate with and party with are worth getting past shyness for, and can relieve a lot of college stress.

• Student Services
  If you find it especially difficult to adjust to the changes or ongoing challenges of college life, your campus likely has resources to help. Go to Student Health and see if they offer workshops or a few counseling sessions; many students find this to be very helpful, and learn skills that help them for the rest of their lives.

For more tips for college students, visit About.com's College Life Site!