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Does Buddhism help with College stress?

Malachy12Malachy12
edited March 2011 in General Banter
Has anyone ever applied Buddhism when they are very overwhelmed with daily life of College, or maybe you have a stressful job and are crazy busy. I'm talking limited sleep and time to balance everything and finish. The stress propels me on one hand, if I lost my stress would I accomplish as much? But on the other hand stress leads to spinning thoughts, no sleep, and general crabby exterior. It's at these times when the Buddha hovers near me and I swat him away like a gnat. "Not right now Buddha-guy, I'm freakin' out man! No time to be calm, the ship is sinking." Buddhist teachings seem to work when I have time to chill and reflect, but when expectations and due dates come around all that great advice seems to fly out of my head.

Comments

  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    edited March 2011
    Some people work best under pressure. Maybe you're one of those people...? The only solution, really, is to budget your time and start those projects earlier, so everything won't get left to the last minute. (Discipline ) Well, and...avoid as much as possible classes that require term projects.
  • YacababyYacababy
    I am college currently and Buddhism helps me to cope with the students who maybe have a little growing up to do. It also helps in my public speaking class ^_^
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited March 2011
    No. There is nothing at all in the classical Suttas or the Mahayana Sutras about Buddhism helping with college stress. In fact, in some of the "terma" or "hidden teachings" of Vajrayana there are specific prohibitions against using Buddhism to cut down on college stress- something about being condemned to the hottest hell for many eons.

    But seriously, friends, Buddhism can help with college stress just like it helps with any other stress. That's partly why it's wise to develop a good practice during times of non-stress so that it cuts down on the person's baseline stress.

    Practice makes things better.
  • Malachy12Malachy12
    I'm just wondering how people like me, who have a love/hate relationship with stress, use Buddhism to combat busy schedule induced stress. On the one hand I could alleviate it by reducing commitments, but on the other hand stress can be a motivator. In my limited understanding (I'm a noob), Buddhism seems to ask us to simplify our lives, but then life says "Bam, I'm not simple, I'm in your face." Sometimes I cut back on commitments, thinking I'm being pretty Buddhist, but my devil's advocate calls me lazy.
    Oh, and I totally relate to Yacababy on that level. There was a classmate who was completely disrespecting my grandma-like professor. Making rude comments under her breath and challenging the teacher's authority. I really wanted to speak up and put this girl in her place, but the teacher serenely ignored her until one day she made us have a class discussion about conflict resolution and attitude when resolving conflict. (Grandma professor is a wise cookie). Suddenly this girl pulled a 180 after confiding with the class that she is easily frustrated and often rude without meaning to be. This girl is much more polite and I just found out that we will be in the nursing program together. So I will have to be compassionate towards her like the professor was if I'm going to be dealing with her for the next 3 years.
  • sufferersufferer
    As a college student i can say truthfully that buddhism does help cut down on the stresses of daily college life. However, if you're looking for relaxation techniques only, then i'd advise you to keep it at that, as trying to switch your entire philosophy on life in the middle of all that stress can lead to "complications".
  • pearlpearl
    But on the other hand stress leads to spinning thoughts, no sleep, and general crabby exterior. It's at these times when the Buddha hovers near me and I swat him away like a gnat. "Not right now Buddha-guy, I'm freakin' out man! No time to be calm, the ship is sinking."
    This is hilarious because it's so true! :) Seriously, I feel for you Malachy12; college is crazy busy. Yet, meditation improves our powers of concentration, which would let us work more effectively. I guess reducing college stress it boils down to a balance of working and engaging in activities that help us work more efficiently, such as sleep, relaxation, and meditation. Since everyone is unique, you can ask yourself: how much down time do I need to function at my best? If you work too hard, burnout happens. If downtime takes over, things don't get done by deadlines. College is, more than anything, learning to manage time. It is so much easier said than done.
    Best Wishes,
    Pearl

  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    Yes it does. When I (hopefully) graduate with my master's in December of 2012, I will have spent 7.5 of the previous 11 years in school. I think if I hadn't discovered Buddhism, I'd probably have had a nervous breakdown long before now! I only wish I had more time to myself to meditate these days. I'm up before the crack of dawn, and so exhausted when I get home most days all I can do is play with the dogs, eat something, prepare for tomorrow's lectures or clinicals, then crash. I just keep telling myself it's only 19 more months. Only 19 more months! :)
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    If you're going to be a nurse you're definitely going to need a good stress-reduction repertoire. And Buddhism.

    Take it from me. I'm a RN of 30 years and a true old battle-axe. And crazy as a hoot owl.
  • pearlpearl
    You go Mountains! Keep rockin' it out!
  • metameta
    Buddhist practice does not decrease stress.
  • taiyakitaiyaki Veteran
    Buddhist practice has changed how I relate to stress.
    I don't really take my problems seriously unless I can do something practical about them.

    For stress, I just watch it come and go like everything else.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    ....I just keep telling myself it's only 19 more months. Only 19 more months! :)
    "This too shall pass".

    Or as I prefer (good lesson for moment-to-moment Mindfulness),

    "Each day we have, is one day less".

  • Malachy12Malachy12
    @Frederica Oh my goodness. I'll have to give that quote to my friends already dying in the nursing program "Each day we have, is one day less".
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    It's a sobering thought.
    But no less true for that.
  • Malachy12Malachy12
    @federica well we'll think of the day we kick the bucket, but those nursing kids will be picturing graduation date ;)
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited April 2011
    The Chinese believe that we are all born with a pre-determined number of breaths.
    Each person has an allocated number, and once you have exhausted your supply, then that's your number up.
    However, they say there's still a way of gaining more time:

    B-r-e-a-t-h-e more s-l-o-w-l-y. ;)

    It's better for your health, keeps you calm, and imbues your mind with much-needed oxygen, thus increasing the sense of well-being and serenity.

    it also takes longer, so you get to live longer.

    Cunning, eh....? :D





  • Malachy12Malachy12
    Breathing... Perhaps when I don't have time for breathing meditation, I'll pull out my trusty paperbag when those breaths start ticking my life away during a project-due-date-hyperventilation-party.
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