WC Wisconsin News

Feeling Stressed? 3 Tips to Cope with That Unnerving Feeling

Everyone has felt it at some point – heart pounding, muscles tightening, blood pressure rising, breath quickening. It’s stress.

It’s normal to experience stress here and there. Inevitably, students at Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) feel it, too.

Warning signs of stress according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services include eating or sleeping too much or too little, having low or no energy, having unexplained aches and pains in the stomach or head, feeling hopeless or helpless and having difficulty adjusting to home or work life, just to name a few.

Coping tips:

    Eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise. Activities like taking a walk through the neighborhood or simply walking up and down the stairs in your home can boost your mood and relieve stress.

    Get enough good sleep. Only go to bed when you are ready to fall asleep. Put the cell phone and laptop away an hour or more before bedtime. Avoid caffeinated drinks before bed, and if you still can’t fall asleep, try journaling what your mind is stuck on.

    Start a routine. Eating meals at the same time each day or incorporating a fun activity three times a week on the same days can give you something to look forward to.

Kurtis Burton, CVTC Student Involvement Specialist in the Student Life department, said finals week brings up many emotions for students in college. That’s why he and other colleagues in Student Life think of activities each semester for students to release some of that nervous energy.

At CVTC, Student Life and the Library host a variety of events and activities during Finals Fest – the week before finals during fall and spring semesters.

“The purpose is to allow students to take a break from studying to participate and enjoy something fun on campus,” Burton said.

Students look forward to interacting with therapy dogs, participating in chair massages, playing arcade games, making novelty items, and partaking in free movie nights and snacks.

Burton said Academic Services at CVTC is a great place for students to have someone look over their final papers and get a last-minute tutor or study help.

Money Matters provides Financial Literacy events. The last one of the semester is typically “Know What You Owe!” and talks about paying back loans, he said. Knowing the numbers and having a plan of action to pay back loans takes the weight off of the students as they look forward to graduation.

Original source can be found here.