By Quanling Zhang, Content Team contributor

Enrolling in a high-paced environment can be stressful. University students are often in such situations, facing multiple deadlines, coursework, critiques and presentations in group settings, as well as managing the heavy workload created by these numerous assignments. Particular sources of stress may also include not having a clear understanding or plan for their studies, social pressure and financial burden.

Many students tend to simply overlook or avoid acknowledging their situation, as admitting that they are under pressure is often perceived as a sign of fragility. This is closely related to mental health stigma – where common stereotypes about psychological difficulties, such as being “weak” or “unstable”, are internalised and applied to themselves when finding themselves stressed out. As a result, they may believe that negative feelings are inherently “bad” and therefore, deny their current state instead of clearly and calmly recognising it.

However, consistently denying one’s true feelings can be seen as a lack of mindfulness, and the accumulation of unacknowledged negative emotions may lead to more severe burnout. A more effective way to respond is by developing self-awareness of stress.

What does self-awareness of stress mean?

It refers to knowing yourself well enough to notice stress early and understand how it affects you. This includes:

• The ability to recognise one’s thoughts, emotions, behaviours, strengths and limitations
• Understanding when and why stress occurs, and how it may exceed one’s coping ability
• Being able to evaluate one’s internal state (e.g. feeling overwhelmed or anxious) and link it to external demands

In general, students with higher self-awareness of stress are better at recognising their sources of pressure and integrating both internal and external resources to manage these challenges.

How to develop self-awareness of stress

In line with this definition, there are several practical ways to develop it.

• Make full use of your surrounding resources.
  • From internal

Start by analysing your own strengths and shortcomings and act in coherence with them. An interesting example can be seen in socialisation. Some students may define themselves as introverted and feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar social situations. In this case, there is no need to force yourself into intense networking or social events. Instead, joining quieter groups of people who prefer deep thinking, such as a reading club, could be a more suitable and effective strategy.

For academic assignments, you can also act based on your self-awareness and allocate your efforts accordingly. For instance, if you need to complete a lab report and know that you are strong in writing, but less confident in data processing or analysis, you can prepare for these tasks in advance and allocate more time to data processing.

• From external

If stress and anxiety become overwhelming, make use of the resources around you and do not hesitate to seek professional help. Every university has mental health support services and accessing them can be a necessary step. Although professional support may not always provide immediate or straightforward solutions, it can help you gain a clearer awareness of your feelings and current state.

As described in the book <Counselling for Toads: A Psychological Adventure>, “Somehow, the way in which the Heron listened to him and prodded him with questions enabled him to bring all sorts of thoughts and feelings to consciousness.” This highlights how being listened to and guided can help individuals better understand themselves.

Building your own support system is also important for maintaining well-being. For instance, you can discuss revision plans with your coursemates, share experiences and feelings with friends who are going through similar final stages and seek advice from seniors, teachers or parents. These interactions can provide both practical support and emotional reassurance.

• Be truly honest and kind to yourself.

Being busy with multiple things to do often leads people to neglect self-care. However, maintaining physical health and a healthy lifestyle is essential and in heavy workload, it can be conducted in more relaxing and easier way. Drinking enough water, staying active and having a balanced diet can significantly help you recover from a hectic day. Several studies have shown that a healthy lifestyle also has a positive influence on academic performance.

Never forget that taking a rest is also a way of treating yourself kindly. A full schedule may make people feel productive and efficient, but without sufficient rest, this efficiency cannot be sustained. This does not mean that you need to do strenuous exercise – even a 15-minute walk can help your brain recover and take a break. Adequate sleep also helps restore energy, improve focus and ultimately, enhance overall productivity.

Meditation and mindfulness activities can also be helpful. Rather than “escaping” stress, they allow you to step back, observe your thoughts more objectively and gain a clearer and more logical perspective on your situation. This more objective viewpoint can also help you develop empathy towards yourself and understand how you deserve to be treated.

In conclusion, stress is a common part of university life, but it can be managed with self-awareness, support and self-kindness. Recognising your feelings is not a weakness but could help.

We hope that every student can manage stress and enjoy a fulfilling and interesting university life!

Reference

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3. Extremera, N., & Fernández-Berrocal, P. (2006). Emotional intelligence as predictor of mental, social, and physical health in university students. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 9(1), 45–51. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1138741600005965
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5. Healthy lifestyle behaviours are positively and independently associated with academic achievement: An analysis of self-reported data from a nationally representative sample of Canadian early adolescents—PMC. (n.d.). Retrieved 9 April 2026, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5533436/
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