Student life is meant to be the time when you absorb vast amounts of information, experiences, and techniques that you will then be able to apply in your future career. It’s an important time in life that is meant to be filled with excitement. At the same time there is a lot riding on your shoulders as a student, which can no doubt lead to stress.

If you’re a current, or future, student of a criminology degree program then you know better than anyone just how important the information is that you are learning. Because you will be entering into law enforcement, it’s vital you learn as much as you can during your school years. The last thing you want is for that stress and pressure to take over and hinder your ability to learn.

To help you out, we’ve gone ahead and put together a number of tips that can help you get through your criminology degree program in a stress-free manner, thereby setting you up for success.

Create a Schedule for Yourself

This first tip may sound simple, but it is incredible how much of a positive effect it can have on you. Creating a schedule will help to lift worries off your shoulders. You can slot in all the important dates, events, appointments, and so forth, making sure nothing gets forgotten.

You may also find it’s necessary to prioritise your schedule. For example, those rare blocks of free time will need to be filled with the most beneficial activities for you. If you’ve never been the type to create a schedule for yourself, here are some tips that can help:

1. Download a personal scheduling or task tool
2. Use the calendar on your phone and make use of reminders
3. Purchase an organiser that you can carry in your bag or keep in your desk at home
4. Make a habit of checking your schedule each morning and evening
5. Add things to your schedule as they come up
6. Learn how to look ahead to tomorrow, the end of the week, next week, and so forth

Feed Your Brain and Body with a Balanced Diet

The next tip is to make sure you’re feeding your brain and body with a well-balanced diet. This means getting a mix of healthy vegetables and fruits, lean protein, fiber, and plenty of hydration (preferably water).

If you’re looking for quick, easy, and healthy options, these can be some great items to reach for:

• Oatmeal packets
• Natural peanut butter
• Hummus and crackers or veggies
• Veggie wrap
• Cheese and crackers
• Hard boiled eggs
• Yogurt
• Nuts

Sleep Shouldn’t Take a Backseat

It’s quite common to feel as though your plate is pretty full in terms of what you need to fit into a day, but this should never be a reason to start missing out on sleep. Sleep is vital for your body and mind, and if you aren’t getting enough, it’s going to affect your ability to learn and absorb information, let alone function in your normal daily life.

So how much sleep is necessary? Experts recommend seven to nine hours each night.

If you are the type of person that has a hard time falling and staying asleep, it may be that you could benefit from a few simple adjustments to your bedtime routine. These could include:

1. Sticking to a set bedtime
2. Investing in a new mattress, making sure it is comfortable and supportive
3. Turning down the temperature in your room so that it’s not hot
4. Using white noise to help you sleep
5. Cutting out sugar, caffeine, and alcohol after dinner
6. Winding down with reading, a bath, relaxing music, or any other relaxing activity before bed

It may be necessary to use more than one of these tips to get the best results.

Make Physical Activity a Priority

Of course, one of the best ways to combat any stress you are going through in life is to work out. Really, any kind of physical activity will do the trick from walking, biking, hiking, bicycling, dancing, gardening, to joining a class at the gym. The goal should be to get moving and get that heart rate going.

Choose an Online Degree Program

You may also want to consider how you pursue your degree in the first place. Today’s students are no longer restricted to online campus programs online, as you can now obtain your degree online. These types of online degree programs are now highly respected and can offer all kinds of benefits. These benefits include:

• The flexibility to study from your own home
• The ability to choose your schedule
• The ability to keep working while studying for your degree, which means a steady income you can depend on
• There is no need to commute to and from campus, which saves money on transport
• You can attend an online school no matter where you live; you aren’t restricted by location
• Online programs are usually cheaper than traditional on-campus programs
• Often you can also finish an online degree faster than a traditional degree, thereby getting into your dream job that much faster

A great example of this type of online program is the online criminology degree available through Wilfred Laurier University Online: https://online.wlu.ca/ba-criminology-policing. The program is 100% online, with no need to visit a campus, there are three start dates each year offering plenty of flexibility, no prior law enforcement experience is needed, and you’ll learn from actual professionals that have real-world experience.

An online program is all about flexibility and convenience, which equals less stress on your shoulders.

Making Your School Years Easier

By making use of one, or more, of these tips you should start to see a real and noticeable difference in the amount of stress you are feeling. Cutting out all stress likely isn’t going to be realistic, but finding ways to work through it, enabling you to focus on your studies is key.