Stress Instructor Manual

Stress is one of the most common – and complex – experiences reported by today’s college students. Whether it’s academic pressure, social dynamics, family expectations, or the uncertainty of future plans, students frequently navigate overwhelming emotions that they often summarize with a simple phrase: “I’m so stressed!”

This instructor manual offers research-informed activities to help students develop a more nuanced understanding of stress, not as something solely negative, but as an experience that can be either harmful or helpful depending on perception and management. By introducing the concept of optimal stress and emphasizing the role of mindset, this resource encourages students to see stress as a potential driver of motivation, growth, and resilience.