77 A Christian Guide to Body Stewardship, Diet and Exercise and anxiety. Overcommitting and procrastination are significant stressors for many individuals. Here are a few strategies for improving time management skills: set priorities; budget enough time; consider doing least favorite tasks first; consolidate tasks when possible; and delegate when appropriate and/or possible. 10. Avoid self-induced stressors. Sometimes we are our own source of stress as poor personal habits can often lead to stress. Here are a few strategies for avoiding self-induced stressors: don’t procrastinate; don’t over-commit your time; set time limits on social media; establish a daily routine; and deal appropriately with anger. Anxiety, Depression, and Hope As previously mentioned, chronic stress, if left unchecked, can lead to severe anxiety and/or depression. According to a 2018 American College Health Association survey tailored to college students, they reported feeling: • Very sad (68.7%) • Overwhelming anxiety (63.4%) • Overwhelming anger (4.12%) • So depressed that it was difficult to function (41.9%) Similarly, according to the 2020 Healthy Minds Study, 37% of college students experienced depression and an additional 31% experienced generalized anxiety disorder (Eisenberg & Lipson, 2020). Anxiety is a state characterized by a feeling of worry, nervousness or unease as a result of an event that is either imminent or uncertain. Some of the different categories of anxiety include social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorders, and various phobias. Physiological symptoms of these disorders include increased heart rate, sweating, nausea, panic attacks, nightmares or flashbacks, fatigue, and headaches (Walters & Byl, 2021). These disorders are usually treated through counseling and medications. Depression is a mental illness characterized by a state of extreme sadness and/or low spirits. Depression is not a character flaw or a sign of weakness. Researchers believe that depression results from a combination of physiological, psychological and social factors such as genetics, chemical imbalance, stress, inadequate social support, and/or negative and/or irrational thoughts. Some of the more common symptoms of depression, assuming they persist for two weeks or more, include (American Psychiatric Association, 2000): • Feeling sad or depressed • Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed • Trouble concentrating, remembering and/or making decisions
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