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Stress relief key to successful finals week
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Finals week is often a stress-inducing period in a
student’s life. However, Boise State Health and Wellness
Center is offering tips to minimize anxiety for students.
“Trying to exercise and eat right during finals is very
important,” Health Educator Rhiannon Avery said.
“People handle stress so differently.”
The upcoming finals week is sure to have many students searching
for ways to relieve mounting stress. Many options exist for
students looking to unwind. Fortunately, the BSU Health and
Wellness website lists several stress-less strategies.
Don’t procrastinate. Exercise, eat right and get proper
amounts of sleep. Write down your thoughts and feelings. Plan
ahead. Make time for yourself everyday.
Research shows a good night’s sleep is important for
retaining information.
“Something about sleep that helps to file data in our head
… if you cram all night nothing gets filed,” said Carol
Pangburn, a health and wellness counselor.
Don’t mentally sabotage yourself. Write out a schedule and
plan when you’re going to get everything done. Keep negative
thoughts at bay; talk positively to yourself. Arrive early; rushing
adds to anxiety, Pangburn said.
Intense study 2-3 days before the test and study groups can
help. Studying for 2 hours straight isn’t necessarily good.
“People can study 25-30 minutes before they need a break …
it’s hard to sit still for a long period of time unless your
watching Matrix,” Pangburn said.
“One good way to motivate yourself is to create a
reward,”
Rewards can be found all over campus during finals week.
“Space Out” is the name of this year’s finals
relief campaign. Activities will be held throughout the SUB, check
your local listings. On Monday, Dec. 15, local radio station 100.3
The X will be in the Game Center giving way 50 pair of tickets to
Story of the Year.
“I was really excited the X called us and said ‘Hey
we want to do a ticket give away,’” said Student
Activities Program Coordinator Autumn Haynes. The free concert will
held Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. at the Big Easy.
Movie lovers can choose from science fiction, comedy or horror
with movies such as Matrix Revolutions, Bad Santa and Gothika.
Check around for prices and listings.
Video games can also help students blow off some steam.
“It’s great stress relief,” Hastings Store Leader
Joe Howard said. Halo for X-Box has been the most popular rental
since it came out. Hastings rents and sells new and used games for
Playstation 2, Game Cube and X-Box.
“When … stressed I like to smell from head to
toe,” said Trish Dienes, assistant manager of the Town Square
Bath and Bodyworks. “We have a full line of
aromatherapy.”
Dienes recommends eucalyptus spearmint pulse point.
“Eucalyptus is great for congestion, spearmint is great for
relieving stress,” Dienes said. Pulse Point is a cream made
with concentrated essential oils. Place it on temples and wrists;
the aroma will help relieve stress. Dienes’ son, who
graduated last year, got good results with Pulse Point during his
finals.
The Rec Center will have a drop-in baby service from 4-9 p.m.
during finals week. “You can drop your kids off and go take
your finals,” Campus Rec Assistant Director for Programs
Jenny Nigrini said. There will be activates and snacks for the
kids.
The Rec will also have a computer lab open for the next two
weeks. “If you have trouble getting into any other computer
labs you can come over here,” Nigrini said.
During finals week the Rec will be holding relaxation sessions.
Stress Relief 101 will be held at 12:30 p.m. Monday through
Thursday and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday on the second of
floor of the Rec Center.
“They’re short 20 minute, come-as-you-are
classes,” Assistant Director for Fitness Programs Lisa Stuppy
said. Instructors will lead students in a stress-reliving program
of stretching and progressive relaxation, which involves tensing
and relaxing different areas of the body.
Monica Price
News Reporter
