How to Limit Stress as a Business Student

    Although it may seem that everyone you meet in college has different majors, interests, campus involvements, and jobs, there is one thing that every college student has in common– stress. Stress is something that comes along with being a student in college, and if it is not dealt with properly, it can lead to more serious issues and even possible health problems. For these reasons, it is important to find ways to manage and limit stress before it becomes too big of an issue to tackle. I’d also like to note that even though this post is geared toward business students, these tactics are extremely useful and can be applied to any student, regardless of their major. 
    For this post, I interviewed two current UBWA members, Ashley Goldberg and Madelyn Campana. Both women are extremely hard workers and put as much effort as they possibly can into all that they do. I truly have never met individuals who work harder all while having tons of other commitments in their daily lives. Even more impressively, they do it all with smiles on their faces. Because of this, I decided they would be the best people to receive advice from for this topic, as I look up to them and admire how well they are able to juggle all of their commitments and schoolwork. 
     Ashley is a second-year accounting student in the honors program at Ohio State with a minor in women’s gender and sexuality studies. In addition, she was on the Philanthropy Committee last year and is now on the Career Fair Committee for UBWA. With a heavy course load and many outside involvements, including her involvement in the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority as the Chief Financial Officer, it is often difficult to fit everything she wants and needs to do into such a busy schedule. When I asked her what she does to best limit stress, she emphasized time management. She added that “time management is the key to success and a less stressful day”,. To do this, she utilizes the Google Calendar tool to plan out her days and block off times for important events such as exams, sorority events, and other student organization meetings. In addition, another piece of advice she gave is to make sure that students are spending a portion of their day doing something they enjoy, whether that means going to the gym, cooking a meal, or going on a walk. While it is important to get work done, it is also important not to overwork yourself, and by taking time for yourself, you can complete your tasks more efficiently. 
       After meeting with Ashley, I spoke with Madelyn Campana, who is also a second-year student in Fisher, with a specialization in marketing. Maddie is an active member in UBWA as well as a member of the Philanthropy Committee for the Tri Delta sorority. When I asked her about what she does to limit stress, she immediately responded with “staying organized”. She added that “it’s nice that most professors utilize Carmen, so I can keep all my notes compiled on my iPad. The work can be a lot at times, but as long as I stay on top of it, I don’t find myself getting too overwhelmed.” Aside from staying organized with schoolwork, she emphasized taking time for herself and prioritizing her needs. Similar to what Ashley said, Maddie added that “listening to a podcast or simply spending quality time with friends” allows her to unwind and de-stress after a long day. Lastly, she notes that she tries to manage her time to the best of her ability, similar to what Ashley does. However, it is important to remember that “it is something easier said than done, but ensuring that assignments don’t pile up is something that [can keep you] calm.”
    So, next time you are feeling overwhelmed due to schoolwork, a job, or any outside commitment, just remember to take a deep breath. While your work may seem like too much to deal with at the moment, you are always supported, and it will all work out in the end. Taking a quick trip to the gym, listening to music, a podcast, or anything else you enjoy doing for an hour of your day may help more than you realize.

Cassie kobel