The finish line to the semester is in plain sight, and summer is so close, but students have to get through finals week first. Finals week means there will be a lot of worrying; however, studies have shown that worrying may not be so bad, according to an article in the Huffington Post.
A majority of students in college are concerned about their assignments, future tests or quizes, their grades, and subsequently their future. Worrying becomes a part of a college student’s daily life. It is not something that can just be stopped. A student can finish an assignment but still have to worry about a future assignment next.
To worry means to give way to anxiety or unease. We live in a society where everyone needs to show that they are happy and if not, all hell breaks loose. People don’t like to say that they are struggling.
“The problem is that very few people talk about their struggles and so we collectively perpetrate the illusion that everyone else has it together,” according to Sheryl Paul, a writer for the Huffington Post.
“If you worry, that means you care,” Nelly Gomez, Plattsburgh State senior majoring in multimedia journalism and magazines and minoring in graphic design, said. “You didn’t give up completely if you are worrying about it.”
Sometimes in small doses — worrying can actually be good for you. In one study for example, worriers tend to be more successful problem-solvers, higher performers at work and in graduate school and more proactive and informed when it comes to handling stressful events that life throws their way, according to an article in nymag.com an award-winning website with original daily coverage of politics, personalities, entertainment, fashion, and food.
Many college students have a lot of workload which increases their stress and increase the feeling of worry as well. Fabiani Baez, a PSUC junior majoring in criminal justice and minoring in psychology, is the president for Organization for Women of Ethnicity, a part of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/ Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority Incorporated, and she tries to balance her academic life along with her social life. Worrying for her is a motivator.
“The thing about me is I know that I am going to get it done, I may worry for a second but I know myself,” Baez said. “I’m a rational person, so I’m like ‘Why am I sitting here worrying when I can be doing something to ease my workload?’”
Excessive worrying is not good for the body, according to the article in the Huffington Post, but worrying can be motivational. If pushing negative thoughts aside does not work, then forming those thoughts into good ones is worth a shot.
Many students have different techniques to try and stop themselves from worrying too much. One good technique for people is to do anything that soothes them.
“I listen to music, some rap to get my mind going,” Itzell Portuondo, PSUC sophomore majoring in TV video production and broadcast journalism, said. “Then I dance a little.”
Another good technique for students to stop worrying so much is for them to take some time for themselves to relax and zen out, according to an article in the Huffington Post. A study published earlier this year in the journal Social Cognitive and Effective Neuroscience showed that relaxing not only can lower anxiety levels in people but controls worrying as well.
Another technique is to make to-do lists of each task that needs to get done, and once the task is completed, check it off.
Excessive worrying is never a good thing, but a little bit of worrying is not too bad. Worrying can be a motivator that pushes a student to finish his or her work, or any task that needs to be completed. It is perfectly normal to worry.
“It’s okay to worry because that means you are doing something,” Baez said. “It’s better to be doing something than to do nothing, but always make sure to take care of yourself too.”
Email Breyana Anderson at cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
