Find ways to manage stress during final weeks of Fall 2019
Now, that Thanksgiving has come to an end, we are entering one of the most stressful times of the school year. Finals are coming up, and, for most students, it can really take a toll on physical, mental, and emotional health. Stress can be triggered by many different factors, but it is important for us to know how to cope with it. There are several ways you can relieve stress, but, if you are unsure how, you can participate in one of the Stress Management Peers events to educate yourself on how to manage stress.
Wen Li, a junior at Illinois, is the vice president of Stress Management Peers (SMP). She is pursuing a major in psychology with a minor in linguistics. Her career aspiration is to become a clinical psychologist and a licensed therapist. As a leader in SMP, her role is to manage and staff workshop requests, market the organization, facilitate team building, and work with other members of the executive board to discuss long-term goals and decisions for the RSO.
Stress Management Peers is an organization that is “dedicated to providing education and awareness to (Illinois) students on stress-related topics and concerns. (They) promote stress management and overall wellness by facilitating workshops to different groups on campus, participating in campus-wide programs and other organizational events while embracing the diversity of our community.” SMP is affiliated with our campus health center, McKinley Health Center. The leaders of SMP are trained by the McKinley Health Education Unit; they give them the tools to participate in community outreach. SMP started as a volunteer organization 10 years ago, and it was coordinated out of a stress management class in the Community Health Department, in order to tell students how to deal with stress-related issues.
The goals of SMP are to build a stronger community and bring awareness to such a prevalent issue on college campuses. It is also important to provide students with resources they need for support. Wen’s personal goal of SMP is to “reach out to as many students as possible and let them know there are resources dedicated to help (them) manage (their) stress levels and time management. Also, to provide them some techniques that they can use in their daily lives.” These techniques are a focus in the SMP workshops. The Positivi-tree Campaign is one way SMP promotes positivity and gratitude. Here, students can write down a positive affirmation, quote, or message and clip it to the tree. You can also take a message from the tree if you would like. This campaign is something that SMP does year-round.
When asking Wen, how being involved with SMP has benefited her and others around her, she said it has pushed her “out of her comfort zone.” It has also encouraged her to reach out to people actively and communicate more effectively with others. She is now able to educate not only herself, but her peers as well. Using some of the relaxation techniques, like deep breathing, has been helpful to her. Wen notices that around midterms and final examinations are when they see an increase in workshop requests. SMP makes sure to incorporate ways to de-stress during exam time. They help assemble McKinley’s stress relief packs that are handed to students around campus.
If she were to give any advice to students during finals week about how to deal with stress it would be to “get enough sleep and stay hydrated.” It is important to “define your tasks and plan ahead of time for each exam so you won’t get stressed out so easily.” She recommends you download the McKinley Wellness App to try some of the online relaxation exercises for study breaks.
Stress Management Peers Events:
- Break Away from Stress – 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2 on the second floor of SDRP (Ikenberry Hall) near the Caffeinator
- Tips/resource information
- Stress ball making, spa recipes (hand scrub an oil) - Mindful Mondays at the University Libraries
- UGL – 7-8 p.m. first and third Mondays
- Grainger – 3-4 p.m. on the second Monday - Random Acts of Kindness Week in February
- Stress Less Party in March
Other tips on stress management:
- Maintain a positive attitude
- Learn how to manage your time effectively
- Practice meditation, yoga, or other exercises that relax your mind
- Eat healthy, well-balanced meals
- Reach out for social support if needed and spend time with those you care about