In honor of Stress Awareness Month, we asked our student ambassadors to share tips on how they combat stress.
Gabby Fleming, Epidemiology student
Hey guys, this week I am going to share a rate of my stress level on a scale from 1-5 (1 being low, 5 being very high) in honor of April being Stress Awareness Month.
Personally, I would rate my stress level at around a 4 meaning I am moderately stressed often. With the end of the semester nearing, responsibilities and my academic work are piling high. However, I feel as though this feeling is common amongst college students around this time.
With that being said, there are a few things that I like to do to help lower my stress level. One thing that I like to do is homework and dinner with my friends. This allows me to get my academic work completed while also spending my time in a comfortable and happy environment.
Another thing that I make sure to do to help manage my stress level is to not overwork and overextend myself beyond more than I am capable of. As a college student, I find that you get the best version of you when you allow yourself the time to take care of yourself. With that being said, taking care of yourself can entail different things among different people; finding what works best for you is what matters most!
Kate Colpetzer, Health Services Management student
For Stress Awareness Month, I wanted to discuss how I personally am dealing with my own stress. My stress is currently about a 4/5. With school, work, and my upcoming summer plans, there is a lot to think about!
I like to manage stress by taking time to myself, going outside and taking in nature, and finding time for family and friends. I know finals can be a stress-inducing time. But there are a ton of resources for students to utilize on and off campus and online. Don’t be afraid to reach out during periods of stress!
Grace Hicks, Epidemiology student
This is only my second year at IUPUI and let me tell you-I am STRESSED! Finals are coming up and there are group projects galore and it can get crazy trying to juggle school work and life.
Unlike a lot of people, I welcome small bits of stress. No one wants crushing stress, but I find that a little bit will help me accomplish more and be more productive. Stress wakes me up and pushes me toward that finish line!
As my classes get harder, however, I am finding that I am very busy and don’t have a lot of me time. That stresses me out more than school! I can be productive if I know I can give myself a break after completing a huge assignment. To do this, I try to give myself an hour a day to decompress before bed. Usually, I read for that hour, which allows me to chill out and take a break before the next day.
Shania Miller, Health Services Management student
This week’s stress on a scale between 1-5 I’d say I scored at a 7. Trying to balance college, work, personal life, and extracurricular activities can be a challenge or very overwhelming sometimes. High levels of stress can affect how you academically perform and your mental health status.
So some ways I combat stress is by using my calendar to keep track of my life schedule and important events, which helps me avoid overbooking my day and do better at time management. Also, another way I combat stress is by taking a mental health day when needed or setting aside some time where I can unwind and take so deep breaths to ground myself.
A couple of tips I’d recommend to help manage stress are to make sure you are getting enough sleep along with avoiding unhealthy habits that contribute to stress. Such as procrastination, which can trigger stress due to limited time and a delay in getting things done.
I hope these few tips and ways you can combat stress help you, so in the future when you are having a stressful day you can turn it around for the better.
Jaida Speth, Health Services Management student
As a student-athlete wrapping up my master’s degree and final semester at IUPUI this month, it feels very fitting for this month to be about increasing awareness of the causes of stress and how to combat it. Simply becoming more aware of my stress and knowing when to initiate combative strategies has helped me throughout my college career.
Don’t overlook your stress! Here are a few tips to reduce your stress:
- BREATHE – slow your breaths and relax your shoulders
- Exercise – release natural endorphins
- Journal – release negative thoughts and feelings
- Laugh – watch bloopers of your favorite comedy show
Life is stressful – really, really stressful, but I hope you can find two minutes today to become aware of your stress and do something about it because you deserve to be in a better mood!
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