A challenge most college students face is keeping healthy. The stressful demands of college can exhaust students’ minds and bodies. Usually it is easy for students to identify their external stressors, but most students have difficulty interpreting their problems, as well as channeling their stress to productive manageable levels that will benefit their health.

Mental and physical health are balanced when students can determine the equilibrium between their external stressors (what is happening in their environment), their mind (what they think about the external stressors), and their body (what their reaction is to the components involved). The right balance of sleep, food, exercise, work, school, and recreation helps most students clarify their problems and gain a perspective on them.

Practice clarifying and gaining a perspective on your problems by focusing on them and discussing them in the exercise that follows the example.

1. Describe the stressful distractions and demands of college with brief phrases.
   
2. Briefly describe your reactions to your stressors.
   
3. Reread the phrases you have written and practice rewording them in a positive manner so you can alter your perception of stressful events or situations and view them as growth promoting, even though they may be difficult to deal with presently.

Note: The key to putting your stress in perspective is to react positively toward your stressors. In order to change how you feel about something, you have to begin with changing how you think about it. This may help you counteract stress negativity.

Here's an example:

Describe a stressor from your relationship demands.
Response: My significant other told me that our relationship was over because college has so many distractions and offers opportunity to meet other people.

Briefly describe your stressful reaction to this.
Response: I feel lonely and like I never want another relationship.

RETHINK AND REWORD your response to the last so that you develop a sense of structure and clarity by discussing it positively.
Response:This gives me the opportunity to focus on my studies and meet new people at my convenience.

Now respond to the situations described below with your own personal examples.

1a. Describe a stressor from your academic demands:

1b. Briefly describe your stressful reaction to this situation:

1c. RETHINK AND REWORD your response to question 1b. so that you develop a sense of structure and clarity by discussing it positively.

2a. Describe a stressor from your living conditions:

2b. Briefly describe your stressful reaction to this problem:

2c. RETHINK AND REWORD your response to question 2b. so that you develop a sense of structure and clarity by discussing it positively.

3a. Describe a stressor from your studying schedule:

3b. Briefly describe your stressful reaction:

3c. RETHINK AND REWORD your response to question 3b. so that you develop a sense of structure and clarity by discussing it positively.

4a. Describe a stressor that conflicts with your sleeping habits:

4b. Briefly describe your stressful reaction to this:

4c. RETHINK AND REWORD your response to question 4b. so that you develop a sense of structure and clarity by discussing it positively.

Here are the positive outlooks you described. Positive thinking benefits your health, improves your perception of daily stressors, and helps you productively channel your stress.

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