Top Tips for Stress-management As An International Student
At some point, all students feel stressed during their college/uni years. However, for international students, this stress can be more intense by the overwhelmingness of moving to a new country. I went through it and I know many of you did too. This is why I’m going to give you a few tips that you can do to minimize stress in order to enjoy the full international student experience.
1. Prepare for a culture shock.
Moving to a new place, getting used to a new, unfamiliar environment, meeting many new people, and learning the different ways of life in a new country can all lead to stress and anxiety. Additionally, being separated from the most important people in your life, your home town, and everything you knew only adds to the fact that culture shock will appear. And you should not ignore it because it won’t just go away.
So you should anticipate culture shock — rather than deny it. This can be an effective preventative measure against stress. If all this gets too much, take a deep breath and a small break. Call your family or friends from your hometown, watch a movie you always watched back home, or make yourself your favorite food which reminds you of your ‘safe place’.
2. Work on your language skills.
Language can be an obstacle not only for your learning but also for your social life. Don’t be scared to speak to English students or making mistakes while learning a new language. You are learning from your mistakes and you can get only better. Insufficient language skills can lead to many issues which is why you need to build up your confidence and just do it.
Practice before you arrive in the new country, befriend native students and commit to learning from them; and reading books and watching popular tv programs are all ways to become more fluent.
3. Learn ways to overcome homesickness easily.
Being homesick does not mean you’re weak, it does not mean you cannot be a student anymore and drop everything now. In fact, so many of the students I know have experienced homesickness and did overcome it. It’s a very common phenomenon within us students, both international and not.
There are many things you can do to reduce homesickness like touching base with your reasons for pursuing a study abroad opportunity is helpful. You could also join your school’s international student group; cook foods from home and inviting new friends to enjoy them with you; reach out to others to build as broad of a network as possible; share your feelings with friends and family members; and make time to connect with friends and family members back home via telephone and video calls as said before. You have to get out of your comfort zone. This is key!
4. Go out and get busy!
Whenever you feel like being homesick or stressed, you are more likely to stay home and not do anything. However, doing so will only make the situation worse. Rather than saying looked up in your room you should go out and discover the natural stress-relieving powers of exercise.
Go to the gym, join a sports club, or do a yoga class being all amazing ways to reduce stress, improve your mood, and get to know new people. Even going for a walk or go for a run can help you feel more connected to your new environment.
5. Remember, we are in this together.
You’re far from being the only person who’s ever felt stress, and I can assure you that many people may actually be suffering from the same feelings that you are who would never look like it. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone and we are in this together. You may also call a friend or family member from home if you have no one to talk to in person about your feelings. If the feelings keep on going or worsen, then check in with your school’s counseling and a mental health office. You should not feel ashamed or scared to seek help.
Remember: The feeling of being stressed or anxious is not a feeling which will last forever. By focusing on the good things in life, finding healthy ways to cope, and seeking help if you need it, you can manage your stress in order to be happy and enjoy life as an international student.
Literature
Hughes, J. (2018). Five Tips for Managing Stress As An International Student. Retrieved from https://www.bachelorstudies.com/article/five-tips-for-managing-stress-as-an-international-student/
Scarr, H. (2018). The Best Stress Relief Methods For Studying At Exam Time. Retrieved from https://www.student.com/articles/the-best-stress-relief-methods-for-studying.
