[Music]

"I find it really hard to balance uni and
work. I've been working two jobs to try
and save some money for times when
I might end up having unexpected costs,
like if my car breaks down. I don't get
much of a social life and things like
exercising and eating well aren't even
an option. I definitely spend a lot of
time worrying about money. It's frustrating
that if I want to be able to support myself
financially, my job has to be the priority
when I really want uni to be my priority.
In a lot of ways stress can be kind of
cyclical. I get stressed so I can't
focus and I don't get as much done on
my assignments as I think I can. So I
get more stressed. Then I'm not able
to sleep so I get really tired which
makes me even more stressed.
Sometimes stress can be helpful because
it motivates me. When I can't sleep or
focus it just builds and builds.
Especially if I have to pull a few
all-nighters in a row."

Stress is a normal response from the
human body that occurs when we feel
under pressure. When we feel stressed,
our cortisol levels rise. Cortisol is
a hormone, which is part of the fight or
flight system that prepares us for action.
Without some stress, we're unlikely to
be able to perform well, be motivated to
act, or make changes in our lives.
On the flip side, too much stress can
lead to excessive anxiety, feeling frozen
and unable to act and feeling burnt out.
Stress can manifest in many ways. People
may have aches and pains, may have a
rapid heartbeat, may have; trouble sleeping,
may be prone to illness, may be depressed
or anxious, may be snappy or irritable,
and may turn to alcohol or drugs to cope.
University can be a stressful time. It's
a high pressure environment where
there's lots to do. New students have
to deal with the transition from high
school, often being away from home for
the first time, new academic challenges,
forming and maintaining new personal
relationships, and managing financial
struggles. It's no surprise that
around 90% of students report feeling
stressed and under pressure at times.

There are a number of ways that we can
prevent stress from getting out of hand.
Stress can easily overwhelm us if our
mind and body are already depleted.
We need to balance out the stressful
things in life with things that keep our
minds and bodies functioning well.
Keeping physically active, having healthy
sleep and eating habits, finding humour
in life, social interaction and learning
techniques to relax can help decrease
the chance of becoming overly stressed.

What triggers stress in you?
It can also be helpful to recognise and
understand what causes you stress.
Are there any elements of this that are
under your control? Are there any
unhelpful thoughts creeping in that are
linked to stress? A great technique to
try is practicing being mindful.
It's a really simple and powerful
technique that can take you out of your
head and help you focus on the present
moment. Mindfulness involves taking an
ordinary activity and really focusing
on what it feels like in the present moment.
When you eat your next meal, really focus
on what the food looks like, tastes like,
and feels like when you take a bite.
Take a mindful shower or walk particularly
when you feel stressed and see whether
it changes how you feel. As always it
really helps to talk to someone when
you feel overwhelmed with stress.
Make an appointment with your university
counselling or health centre. I can
guarantee that you won't be the
first person they've seen who struggles
with stress.

Thanks for watching.

[Music]