(CU Independent photo illustration/Adam Milner)
With finals coming up and stress forming like a storm cloud over campus, students share their advice on how to cope with stress.
Get moving!
Engaging in any physical activity serves as an immediate remedy to stress. According to the University of Georgia’s University Health Center, activities such as running, weight lifting, playing sports and even walking for 20 to 30 minutes will cut someone’s amount of stress by almost half. We’ve all heard the same excuse before: “I don’t have time to exercise.” Think of it this way, the 30 minutes that it takes to check your Facebook or watch an episode of Family Guy on Hulu can be put to good use by say, playing a game of volleyball with a study group. Take a hike with a few friends or even by yourself if you’re feeling adventurous.
Katherine Buckley, a 20-year-old sophomore architecture major, said she feels a hike to Chautauqua or a walk around campus is “the absolute best medicine.”
Eating right
Like peanut butter and jelly, exercising and eating right go very well together, especially when trying to relieve stress. Even though mounds of Cheetos and Mountain Dew may be delicious, they will in no way help in battling stress (or your waistline). So listen to mom and “eat your vegetables!”
Stay organized
It is important not to leave everything to the last minute, or cram all of the semester’s information in your head during one night.
Garrik Gibbings-Isaac, a 20-year-old junior finance major, said what works best for him is to “aim to study earlier.” It also helps some students to use a calendar to plan study sessions and other commitments.
Think happy thoughts
Positive thinking is key, especially when dealing with stress. Visualization is also helpful. Visualize getting an A on an exam; that will make studying less stressful and seem more productive.
“Just do it,” said Adam Gubbels, a 20-year-old sophomore accounting major. “Whatever you have to do, just do it.”
Look around
The university provides a myriad of programs and activities to help students alleviate stress and survive finals week. The Midnight Breakfast at the UMC is a popular program for students that allows them to take a break from the stress and refuel for studying. Various academic departments offer tutoring, such as the Beta Alpha Psi accounting fraternity that tutors students in accounting. Wardenburg and Counseling Services also provide helpful tips for stress relief.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Taylor Evans at Taylor.evans@colorado.edu.
1 comment
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