5 Ways to Deal With Stress as International Student

How do I deal with stress as an international student? That is one question that is asked by many students who go abroad. The environment is different, people are strange, and you’re away from your family and friends. This, along with the stress of studies and juggling jobs, makes one very anxious, stressed, and even depressed sometimes. In such cases, there are ways you can deal with the situation,  get out of the stress, improve your development, and stay healthy.

This blog will deal with all such topics and discuss the five most effective ways to deal with your stress as an international student.

What is Stress?

Stress is not to be confused with depression, which is one of the most widespread phenomena in the Western world and can impact anyone from anywhere in general. Stress is a short-term mental pressure that one feels when in a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response to the environment and can be caused by many things, such as studies, jobs, family separation, violence, and even minor relationship matters. However, it is short-term and can be managed with good habits and strategies. 

Ways to Deal with Stress?

Stress has many forms, such as very short-term stress is called anxiety, which is caused by impending tasks such as an assignment or the feeling that you have at the start of a task. There are many ways you can deal with stress, and here are the five ways.

1. Socialise and make Friends

As an international student, one of the leading causes of stress is separation anxiety. When humans were developing and evolving as social animals, this response was designed to maintain a social group. So, separation from a familiar group causes stress. The best way to deal with stress is to make new friends and seek new communities and social groups. Here are the best ways to make new friends as international students:

• Join University/College Clubs
• Find your country’s local organisations
• Go to local events and talk to people
• Avoid too much reliance on social media apps

1. Time Management

Your studies play an essential part in your stress and anxiety. You should find ways to manage your time, such as the Pomodoro technique and the Eisenhower task chart, all of which are great ways to manage what is the most important task. This will reduce stress most effectively, giving you much time with yourself. This way, you will be better able to find new hobbies, find leisure time, do jobs, and have a good time away from stress.

1. Talk to friends and family often.

One of the most significant sources of stress is separation from the people you love and finding peace with, such as your family, friends, and language groups. You have indeed separated from them by thousands of miles, and going back is not an easy thing, but you can keep in touch. Find ways to talk to your family, keep them motivated, and talk with them about less stressful things such as studies and jobs.

Pick up the phone, dial your favorite sibling, and talk to them about your day. This will keep you motivated, in touch with the people you have grown up with, and stress-free.

1. Eat healthy

Even if you don’t know, having the food you like and accessing it whenever you want is a significant player in your stress. Eating unhealthy, junk, and fast food also causes your body to react differently. So find healthy eating habits. You can find a local grocery store and buy everyday things to cook for yourself. Research also indicates that cooking for oneself reduces stress and improves happiness. So next time you are thinking of eating healthy, make it yourself. 

1. Seek support from a professional

We should also know that dealing with stress can be challenging. Sometimes, what we plan goes differently than we intended it to, and this makes us more stressed. So, finding a support group and talking to professionals is also an option. English-speaking countries in international education systems handle stress and depression with care, and universities provide therapy for international students due to the sensitive nature of the issue. So talk to your school. Here is how you can do it:

• Contact your International Student office for help
• Use your healthcare insurance to find a therapist
• Join university support groups for stress management
• Talk to your advisor about the situation in private

Always remember stress causes a lot of time waste and resource occupation, so dealing with it the best way is very important.

Conclusion

As the leading study abroad consultant in Lahore, we have helped many students find their favorite study abroad destination. The Uni Guide also offers students advice on their daily life stress management after they are in their destination country. We have well-equipped consultants who can effectively handle the stress and related problems of our clients. You can count on us for a long-term stay in the land of your choice. Contact us today for more information and preparation for your study abroad application. We also offer English proficiency certification preparation such as IELTS, TOEFL & PTE.