When it comes to college, what’s the first thing you think of? Tough exams? Ten-page research papers? Cold lecture halls? For many people, college boils down to one word: stress. 

It seems like stress can come at you from every angle, from low funds to planning a study group. Stress is how your mind and body respond to a challenge or concern. It should be something that you learn to manage, though many people often try to use it to their advantage.

Not all stress is detrimental. Eustress, also known as beneficial stress, can enhance performance. It’s often a motivating factor for college students. When you’re stressed out, maybe you want to work hard enough to tackle the stressors head-on with increased focus. On the other hand, chronic stress can have negative health effects. Using chronic stress as a motivator is training your brain to only feel motivated when it’s under duress.

If stress is your driving motivator, it’s time to explore other concepts that can keep you motivated without putting your mental, emotional and even physical health at risk. But how do you know if stress is keeping you motivated? Here are three signs that stress is your main motivator:

• You cut it close to deadlines — When a student is working on a paper just an hour or two before the deadline, they’ll often say, “I work better under pressure.” However, it’s more likely that they’re just used to procrastinating with the increased stress that it brings. If you’re constantly cutting it close to deadlines for submitting online quizzes or assignments, it’s likely that you’re motivated by stress to wait until the last minute.
• You always cram for exams — Similar to the previous point, lack of time management for studying can often be chalked up to using stress as a motivator. Most classes require a handful of studying hours every week, though it’s not uncommon to wait until you have an exam to start. By studying just the day before, or even pulling an all-nighter, you’re likely hoping that the information will still be fresh when you take the exam. This motivates you to read as much as possible in a short period of time, despite the stress.

• You want to be constantly productive — If you feel like you need to be doing something productive every second of the day, then it’s likely that your stress makes you believe that there’s always something that needs to be done. It can also make you feel like if you’re not doing something, then you should feel guilty. If you have trouble relaxing or doing something mindless for an extended period of time, like watching television, then you may be used to having stress motivating you to be productive.

Now that we’ve talked about how to determine if stress is your driving motivator, it’s time to dive into the reasons why it’s time to seek a different one:

• A focus on the wrong thing — If you feel like you have to be stressed to be productive, you’re likely thinking about the potential consequences of not getting a task done. Since stress has a negative impact on your mental health, it can lead you to have a pessimistic outlook. If you’re always thinking about the possibility of failing as opposed to succeeding, it can take away from the sense of accomplishment.
• Raised risk of a mental health disorder — While stress is almost impossible to avoid, it can also lead to anxiety, which can affect your productivity to complete a task due to overwhelming concern, even when there isn’t a threat. Worsening or chronic stress can lead to anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder. Along with decreased productivity in your coursework, overwhelming anxiety can interfere with your ability to connect with others and plan for the future.
• Reduced creativity — College is a time to figure out who you are and think outside the box. That means trying to test out your creative prowess in a variety of ways, such as putting a unique twist on the analysis of a classic book or taking an opposing view on a discussion that’s generally agreed upon. If you always feel stressed while trying to get through your assignments, you can stifle your creativity because you don’t have the time or patience to try something outside of your norm. 

While stress may seem to have been a successful motivator for you up until now, it may be time to find a new one. Not only will you be able to get more out of your academic endeavors, but you’ll also be able to improve your overall mental health.

If you’re having trouble managing your stress and it’s leading to mental health challenges that are interfering with your everyday life, Lightfully U may be worth exploring. Our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program gives college students the guidance they need to work through their stress-motivated behaviors and learn coping mechanisms as well as alternate ways to motivate themselves.

If you need further treatment, our other three levels can help reduce the risk of more severe mental health symptoms:

• Residential Treatment Center
• Intensive Outpatient Program
• Partial Hospitalization Program

Be sure to keep your eye out for the second part of our “Driving Motivators” series.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.